Cebu City, Philippines — Cebu-based EastWest employee-athlete Peter Arreglado continues to bring pride to the Bank after securing gold and bronze medals at the 3rd Iloilo City Paddling Festival held last August 20 to 23, 2026, further proving that the values of discipline, teamwork, resilience, and excellence extend beyond the workplace.

^{Peter Arreglado celebrates his gold and bronze finishes at the 3rd Iloilo City Paddling Festival.}

Arreglado, who is part of EastWest’s Cebu Office Real and Other Properties Acquired (ROPA) team, won gold in the Mixed 250-meter Small Boat category and bronze in the Mixed 100-meter Small Boat category. Competing with the Sugbu Mighty Dragons, he helped the team finish the festival with an impressive medal haul of five golds, one silver, and one bronze.

The latest win adds to Arreglado’s growing list of achievements in dragon boat racing, a sport he has pursued for nearly seven years while building his career with EastWest. The Bank encourages its people to aim high in their careers and pursue the passions that matter to them outside work. His success shows the same drive in action.

“My hybrid work set up contributes a lot by adding leeway of time to my personal training during weekdays,” Arreglado said. “At the age of 42, I was able to handle work-life balance.”

For Arreglado, the Iloilo festival celebrated what he calls “the bond of togetherness through and beyond the dragon boat.” The sport relies on trust, coordination, and a shared goal, much like any strong team in the workplace.

“I consider dragon boat training as one of my stress relievers,” he shared. “For those seeking an extreme sport that will test the adrenaline, discipline, and teamwork, try dragon boat paddling.”

A journey of discipline, resilience, and national pride

Arreglado’s strong performance in Iloilo follows his stint at the 2024 International Canoe Federation Dragon Boat World Championships in Puerto Princesa, where he represented the Philippines as part of the Master’s National Team. He earned silver in the 200-meter small boat event and bronze medals in the 500-meter small boat and 2,000-meter standard boat events, contributing to the country’s top finish in the medal standings with 11 gold medals.

^{Arreglado and the Sugbu Mighty Dragons finish the festival with five golds, one silver, and one bronze.}

EastWest supported his preparation for that international campaign through workplace flexibility and financial assistance which enabled him to manage his responsibilities at work while training for competition at the highest level. Arreglado has continued to build his career at EastWest while competing in the sport he loves.

Through employees like Arreglado, EastWest’s values come to life in ways that go beyond day-to-day banking. His story demonstrates how excellence is built through consistency, how teamwork drives shared success, and how resilience enables individuals to keep moving forward despite demanding goals.

Arreglado is already preparing for his next challenge as he and his team compete at the NUSTAR Dragon Boat Regatta 2026. As he returns to the water, he carries with him the same discipline, teamwork, and perseverance that define both his sport and his work as an EastWestbanker.