Chasing the Wind: A Paraw Captain’s Journey

Born and raised in Aklan, Danilo Villorente, 56, has spent over three decades chasing the wind and riding the waves as a paraw operator. 

A paraw is a traditional Visayan double outrigger sailboat, once used mainly for transporting cargo and passengers. Today, it has become a favorite among tourists, especially in Boracay, for its colorful sails and quiet, graceful way of gliding across the sea. 

Danilo was just 15 when he first started tagging along with his cousin, a boatman. Not as a passenger, but as a boy endlessly curious about the sea. “Dala-dalawa lang ang pasahero noon,” he recalls. “Wala pang masyadong turista. Pero pangarap ko talagang maging kapitan ng bangka.” 

By 1995, as Boracay was rising as a world-class destination, paraw sailing quickly gained popularity. His trips became more frequent, the winds more familiar. But it wasn’t until 2013, when he joined his first paraw race in the annual Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival, that he truly learned the art and discipline of sailing. 

That’s where he discovered how to read the wind, how to ease and tighten the sail, and how to stay calm when the mast breaks in the middle of a journey. “Doon ko na-perfect,” he says with quiet pride. 

From 2016 to 2018, Danilo proudly sailed with the Discovery 1 team, a crew that ruled Category B of the Iloilo sailboat race — the Philippines’ biggest sailing spectacle and the oldest of its kind in Southeast Asia. 

Paraw sailing, he says, isn’t as simple as it looks. “Kahit malakas ang hangin, kung di mo alam kung saan ka pupuwesto, hindi uusad ang bangka,” Danilo explains. “Lalaruin mo ang hangin. Kunwari ngayon, salubong (ang hangin), hindi puwedeng diretso ang direksyon mo. Ang style ko, gigilid muna ako, tapos hahabulin ko ‘yung hangin, saka ako babalik. Du’n uusad ang bangka.” 

Over the years, he has weathered snapped masts, torn sails, and sudden, violent gusts of wind — “chubasco,” as he calls them — that roll in without warning. And yet before every trip, he never forgets to say a prayer. “‘Pag bibiyahe ako, dasal muna. ‘Diyos ko, bigyan mo kami ng magandang hangin. Hindi masyadong malakas, hindi masyadong mahina, ‘yung tama lang.’” 

Currently staying in San Juan, Danilo continues doing what he loves: sailing his mahogany boat, chasing the wind, and playing with the waves. “Hanggang kaya ng katawan ko, maglalayag ako. Dito ako masaya.” 

And perhaps it’s in those moments, out in the open sea, where he finds the most wisdom in his craft. 

“Ang hangin, parang buhay. Hindi mo man kontrolado, basta marunong kang sumabay, dadalhin ka nito sa pangarap mo,” Danilo beams. 

Get to know Danilo and discover the beautiful art of paraw sailing when you visit Solmera Coast in San Juan, Batangas! Experience the wind, the waves, and the timeless tradition that continues to sail on. 

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DMCI Homes Leisure Residences is the new brand of Quadruple A developer DMCI Homes offering resort condotels in sought-after vacation destinations all over the country. True to DMCI Homes’ brand of superior value, each DMCI Homes Leisure Residences property features best-in-class product and service features found in top-rated luxury resort properties, at price points that will delight value-discerning clientele.   

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