Last week, fans and artists gathered at the Mall of Asia. The event: the MTV Exit Party, an event that strives to educate people against the evils of human trafficking. Performers such as the Itchyworms, Bamboo, Parokya ni Edgar, Callalily and Moymoy Palaboy performed in front of a cheering audience.

Here's a little bit about the campaign, as taken from Luis Katigbak, who wrote the event script.:

Human trafficking is the illegal exploitation and trafficking of human beings. It is the buying and selling of people and forcing them into prostitution, domestic servitude or manual labor. In other words, modern day slavery.

We take for granted the fact that we are free to do almost anything (as long as it's not against the law). What a lot of us don't know is that there are a lot of people who have had their choices taken away from them. There is an estimated 2.5 million victims of illegal human trafficking worldwide, and more that 1 million of these victims are in Asia and the Pacific. Traffickers usually victimize those in need, those paralyzed by poverty or those who dream of a better life. Traffickers take those dreams and prey on them, exploiting the hopeful, the weak and the vulnerable.

There are many ways that people can get tricked into slavery. Some are kidnapped and forced to work. But most victims go willingly, thinking that they are on the road for a better life, only to realize that they have been tricked into a difficult situation. Most of the time, this happens because people don't know the facts, and people don't do their research. Remember those stories of illegal recruiters whose victims are forced into prostitution? That's illegal trafficking right there.

Anyone can be at risk. Aside from the danger of becoming victims, we are also in danger of victimizing others, like if you pay for sex with someone who's being coerced (not that you should pay for sex at all) or buy goods made by forced or exploited labor. The best way to guard against this is to be informed. Read about it, talk about it, do your research. Don't just trust anyone who guarantees you a high paying job overseas without checking out his or her sources first. Tell people where you're going and always give them information on how to reach you.

There are victims of human trafficking right here in Manila. If you suspect that someone is trafficking or being trafficked, don't hesitate to report it to the proper authorities. It also helps to be educated in the matter.

It's great that MTV and some of the country's top musicians took their time to promote awareness about this. It's something that we've always known was there, but are doing little (either because we lack resources or because we simply don't care) to stop.

While in Boracay covering the Dragon Boat Festival, I managed to interview the head and assistant coaches of the Camarines Sur (CamSur) Rowing Team. These guys have been known around the Dragon Boat circuit for a while now, winning races all over the region. This year, they bagged four out of six golds – for the men's and mixed categories in the 300 and 500 meter competitions (they hadn't brought their women's team) - at the Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival last April 30 – May 2.

Watching the Cam Sur team on the water is like watching a machine, with everyone rowing in unison, paddles slicing through the waves, their eyes glued to the finish line. The team, which was put together in 2006, has bagged 45 gold medals to date. They've competed and won in many prestigious events around the region including the World Championship in Penang in 2008, where they got into the Top 2. They also won four golds in China in 207 and in Singapore in 2008. Not bad for a team that's only three years old. “I think it's because of the discipline we put into our practices,” says head coach Ruben Brazal (day job: rice farmer) in Tagalog, “Also, our paddlers live by the river. They are farmers and fishermen.”

Though it was Brazal who put the team together, he admits that Dragon Boat racing was the last thing on his mind when he approached Governor Luis Villafuerte for support. “I came to ask him for financial help for our team in the Bicol Regatta. It's an annual contest held during (the Feast of Our Lady of) Peñafrancia (in September). He took one look at our profile and said 'Why don't you guys Dragon Boat race instead?'”

Gov. Villafuerte has been financing and promoting the CamSur Rowing Team since March 2006, going as far as to pay the paddlers salaries so that they don't have to worry about missing part of their livelihood during practices and competitions. Brazal recruited some of the Regatta's top performers

Members are expected to be disciplined. They aren't allowed to have vices, and are expected not to miss or be late for practices. “It's really hard to get on the team,” says assistant coach Bernardo San Andres, also a rice farmer, in Tagalog, “You have to try out for it. We keep members on for a month to see how well they work wit others. You have to respect authority. Without it, you can't make the cut.”

One of the biggest draws of being on the Rowing Team is the chance to compete in other places. “A lot of people are interested because we got to go overseas,” San Andres says, “We also get (financial) help.”

The team's training schedule depends on the competition they're getting ready for. “If it's an international event, we train one month before. If it's national, 15 days,” Brazal says, “We train in the morning for an hour to an hour and a half, rowing against the current of the Bicol River. It's great to practice there.”

“The secret is discipline,” San Andres says, “Members have to concentrate when being taught how to row the way we want them to. It's important not to have any vices, and to act for the good of the team.” In San Andres' personal experience, joining the team has made him lose interest in vices. “Nowadays, I tend to skip parties because I have to train the next day. I'd rather train so that we can compete outside (the province).”

CamSur has recently added a women's team, which, though only seven months old, has already begun winning competitions in Subic, Boracay and Manila.

“We would not have made it this far without the support of our local government,” Brazal says. Gov. Villafuerte is known for promoting his province's sports tourism. Already known as a hub for wakeboarding, Gov. Villafuerte is trying to get CamSur known for Dragon Boat racing as well, with the province recently hosting its own Dragon Boat races. “We plan to continue training,” Brazal says, “We've competed in Asia, we've gone to the World Championships in Penang. We're looking forward to competing in Europe. Hopefully, we'll be given the chance to do that.”

Last May 1-2, sports enthusiasts from different countries swarmed to Boracay to take part in the 3rd Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival. Braving strong waves and unpredictable weather, the participants took to the waves to see who would be the fastest dragon boat team on the island.

“[The Boracay Dragon Boat Festival is] the biggest annual event in the country, we feel,” says Candy Perez de Tagle, one of the Organizers, “We pull in around a thousand people to Boracay... We are bringing a lot of tourism to Boracay and people are enjoying no matter what.”

The opening ceremonies were held the night before the races, the program held under tents instead of the usual open sky because of the hard rain. But it would take more than precipitation to dampen the spirits of the dragon boat teams, some of whom had come from overseas just to take part in this annual event. Included in the roster were the Guardians Rowing Team, the Singapore Paddle Club, the Boracay Bumshells and the Camarines Sur Rowing Team.

The competition was divided into two categories, the 500 meters and the 300 meters, and spanned two days. The 500 meter race, held on May 1, was beset by weather that vacillated between rain and sun. The waves were so choppy that it was decided that the teams would have 16 paddlers instead of the usual 22. The weather did not stop everyone from heading out to the beach and having a good time.

“Having played in many team sports before, Dragon Boat is the ultimate team sport that you can get into because here, there is no superstar,” says Abegale Clarino from Boracay's Bugsay Blades, “You are known as one team and the strongest paddler can be the weakest if that paddler is not in sync with everyone.”

The weather cleared up for the 300 meter races the next day. That's when everyone went all out, cheering for their teams from the shore, building human pyramids in the surf and enjoying the lightly cloudy Boracay weather.

“I just love the event. It's really great, and a real credit to the people of Boracay especially,” says Bill Hutchinson, coach of Hong Kong's BGC Stormy Dragons, “I just think it’s great that everyone in the Philippines gets behind them... it’s (a) very popular race in Hong Kong and now as you can see with teams from Singapore coming, it's just a good race and a great place to have it.”

The results were announced in a grand dinner held at the Boracay Regency, where everyone dressed up and partied down, with Hong Kong's Llama Dragons and the Gaud Ilonggo team as the life of the party. As for the race results, Camarines Sur bagged four out of six gold medals. But dragon boating isn't all about the winning – it's more about the camaraderie between team members, and how there are no such things as real rivals, and the after party proved that.

The results:

300 Meters

Mixed
3rd – Boracay All Stars
2nd - PNP Patriots
1st – Bugsay Boracay
Winner – Camsur Rowing Team

Men's
3rd – Ati Bugsay
2nd - Guardian's Rowing Team
1st – Boracay All Stars
Winner – CamSur Rowing Team

Women's
3rd – Stormy Dragons
2nd - Singapore Paddle Club
1st – Bugsay Blades
Winner – PNP Patriots

500 Meters

Mixed
3rd – Bugsay Boracay
2nd – Singapore Paddle Club
1st- PNP Patriots
Winner – Camarines Sur (CamSur) Rowing Team

Men’s
3rd – Stormy Dragons
2nd - Gaud Ilonggo
1st – Guardians Rowing Team
Winner – CamSur Rowing Team

Women's
3rd – Stormy Dragons
2nd - PNP Patriots
1st – Bugsay Blades
Winner – Singapore Paddle Club

Next installment: A close up of the Camarines Sur Rowing Team