Building Community Through Sport

In Singapore, the Filipino community comes together not just for celebrations but also through sports. One of the most inspiring examples is Filipino Dragons Singapore (FDS), a dragon boat team made up of Filipino paddlers from all walks of life. Since it was founded in 2008, the group has worked to unite overseas Filipinos through fitness, teamwork and national pride.

FDS is more than just a sports team — it is a family that supports each other. The group welcomes new paddlers, encourages a healthy lifestyle and promotes a strong sense of Filipino culture and identity.

IBM 2025: “Pintados” Theme Honors Courage and Heritage

Every year, Filipino Dragons host a major event called Isang Bangkang Malaya (IBM) to celebrate the Philippine Independence Day. In 2025, IBM returns with the theme “Pintados”, inspired by ancient Visayan warriors who wore tattoos as symbols of strength and bravery.

This year’s event carries the powerful message: “One Stroke Creates Art; United Strokes Move an Ark.”It reminds everyone that individual efforts matter, but when we work together, we achieve great things.

IBM 2025 took place at Bedok Reservoir and featured exciting races such as:

• Fiesta Cup – for fun and mixed teams
  
• Captain’s Cup – for serious racers
  
• Barak Cup – for senior paddlers aged 40 and up
  

The event is not just about winning races. It is a celebration of Filipino culture, unity and community spirit in Singapore.

Supporting Every OFW’s Journey With Easy Remittance From Singapore

Smiles Mobile Remittance, developed by Japan’s Digital Wallet Group, has launched in Singapore to extend its low-cost, fast mobile remittance service. Originally popular in Japan, Smiles enables users to send money to over 200 countries directly through their mobile phones. The app is available in English, Tagalog and Bahasa Indonesia. It also offers convenient local options like bank credit and cash pickup. Users earn loyalty points, enjoy secure eKYC registration, and benefit from real-time remittance tracking. The app’s excellence was recognized with Japan’s Good Design Award in 2021.

Key features:

• Low fees and competitive exchange rates
• Instant transfers and secure registration
• Bank credit, cash pickup, or mobile wallet delivery
• Multi-language support and a points-based rewards system

A Celebration of Filipino Strength and Unity

This year, Smiles Mobile Remittance Singapore is proud to support IBM 2025. Together, Filipino Dragons Singapore and Smiles Mobile Remittance show how culture, sport and support can come together to uplift a community. Whether it’s on the water or through a phone app, Filipinos in Singapore are staying strong, staying proud and helping each other move forward.