Filipino Para Dragon Boat Team Stranded in Hualien as Locals Rally to Help

A 53-member Filipino dragon boat team arrived in Hualien for a six-day world championship and found itself unable to pay for accommodation. The team includes several athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Huang Rong-dun, founder of the Hualien Good People Association, publicised the team’s situation on Facebook. He said the team’s sponsor had encountered problems and that the athletes had not brought enough money. Without help, the group risked being left without a place to stay.

Local support quickly formed around the team. Shoufeng Presbyterian Church pastor Chen Feng-ming took responsibility for arranging accommodation. Li Chi Bento sponsored 56 boxed meals each day, while Lin Kee Fish Balls provided food free of charge. A steamed-bun shop in Dachen New Village supplied breakfast, and Hsu Tang Construction sent food through the association. Other churches, community groups, Filipino migrant workers and individuals also joined the effort.

The assistance allowed the athletes to eat and settle in. Huang criticised the organisers, saying Hualien had pursued an international event without adequate emergency arrangements, especially for a team that included people with disabilities.

Hualien County Government said the problem arose because the Filipino team and the event organisers had not fully shared information, and because the team had misunderstood the English-language competition rules. The county said participating clubs or athletes must pay registration, accommodation and transport costs under the event regulations and normal international-event practice. It added that organisers had promptly provided information about legal local accommodation and helped connect the athletes with lodging providers.