By JOY R. SEVILLA
GLAN, Sarangani (April 23, 2014) – Swimmers from General Santos City, South Cotabato, Sarangani and even from Manila and Cebu will display endurance and speed as they attempt to conquer Sarangani Bay in record time on May 16 for a 15-kilometer swim from Maasim to Glan.
Will the 2:34:21 hours record of Dadiangas Torpedoes be broken? – that’s the million-dollar question.
Nemrad Butil, of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and organizer of the 9th Swim-Across-Sarangani Bay Competition, said the teams who will join in the competition are also those who joined in the previous years. However, some members per team may have to be replaced.
He said a team from General Santos City has invited swimmers from Cebu and Manila to take the challenge.
Sarangani’s swim-across-the-bay is the longest swim in the country. The open ocean swimming race remains to be the much-awaited sports event of SarBay.
This is the longest open ocean marathon swimming competition probably in Asia.
“Kailangan talaga na may bagong swimmers kada-taon sa bawat team to give chance to other swimmers. This competition is limited to ten teams only,” explained Butil.
He added that the teams, composed of five members each, are from Polomolok, Lake Sebu, Koronadal City, Sarangani and General Santos.
Butil said “I Conquer Sarangani Bay” will be embedded in the winners’ medals.
“Pinalitan natin yung ‘Sarangani Bay Invasion’. Hindi kasi lahat naka-cross ng Sarangani Bay through swimming,” Butil said.
Organizers are looking forward for more competent and record-breaking swimmers this year.
Last year, 11 year-old Alyssa Damasco from Kabacan, Cotabato was the youngest swimmer. The fastest team finished the race an hour earlier than expected. An average team can finish the competition in four hours.
2013 champion Dadiangas Torpedoes team (2:34:21 hours) has been breaking its own record in the most grueling sport of SarBay Fest, the biggest beach party in Southern Philippines. It was in 2007 that the Torpedoes set their first championship record of 2:50:15.
Aside from medals and trophies, cash prizes are at stake for all participating teams. Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000) awaits the team to win first place; P35,000 for the second place; and, P25,000 for the third place. All finishers shall also be awarded with a medal of “Invaders” and consolation cash prize of P6,000 per team.
Butil added that all swimmers who participated and successfully swam across Sarangani Bay will be properly recognized. As a token of recognition, the names of all swimmers who have successfully crossed the finish line shall also be logged in the “Book of Invaders”.
“Hindi lang endurance ang iku-consider dito pero pati na ang speed,” he said.
Rolando Tuballes, provincial environment and natural resources officer, said the objective of the competition is to raise awareness in protecting and conserving Sarangani Bay aside from promoting eco-tourism in the province.
The 9th Swim Across Sarangani Bay Competition, organized by the PENRO in coordination with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and the Provincial Governor’s Office is just one of the events that beach enthusiasts and party-goers look forward to every year in celebration of SarBay Festival. (Joy R. Sevilla/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
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