Tonio Aboitiz asks: Swim 6.4 kms.

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Mention the name “Marathon” and what definition comes to mind? Long-distance road-running that stretches as far as 42 kms., right? Right. Well, there’s another type of marathon that you probably haven’t heard of. This time, it’s not on the asphalted road—but on this vast God-given resource that occupies 71 percent of the earth’s surface: Water.

“Open sea marathon” is its name and, in our country of 7,107 islands, it’s the only event that exists—and it’s right here in Cebu.

Jose Antonio Aboitiz, a member of Cebu’s most respected business family, started this project last year. The 2nd Olango Challenge, it’s called, and yes, at first thought, it’s an intimidating mission: to swim, amidst the open waters along Mactan, the distance of 6,400 meters.

My thoughts at first? I’ve done a 6.4K distance. On land! But swim? For 6.4 kilometers?

“It may sound very far but if you regularly swim and are able to practice a few long-distance swims then it will be an enjoyable experience.”

Tonio Aboitiz, the Chairman of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in the Visayas, said those words when we met last Wednesday at the Casino Español for the press conference, also attended by Lex Reyes of PASA and Rudy Villanobos of Lapu-Lapu City.

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Tonio Aboitiz (center) with Rudy Villanobos and Lex Reyes

“In partnership with the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (PASA),” said Mr. Aboitiz, “the PBSP will host the 2nd Olango Challenge on April 18. More than 80 seasoned, competitive as well as amateur swimmers from all over the country are expected to join the Philippine’s only open water marathon swimming event.

“This year’s Olango Challenge is designed as a 6-km. coastwise swim rather than a channel crossing, and will begin at the pier of Pacific Cebu Resort and end at the beachfront of Tambuli Beach Club.

“The OLANGO CHALLENGE is an annual fund-raising event for the benefit of the children of Olango. The event highlights the importance of having a clean marine environment, raises awareness on the magnitude of preventable drowning incidence in the Philippines and promotes open-water marathon swimming as a sport in which Filipino swimmers should excel.

“Last year, the 1st Olango Challenge fielded more than 70 swimmers who swam 5 kms. across the Gilutungan Channel from Olango to Mactan. Proceeds will be used to fund the construction of a classroom—an addition to the classroom funded by last year’s 1st Olango Challenge at Candagsao Elementary School on Olango Island.”

Yes, mark that date: April 18 at 1 p.m. That’s the exact time when nearly 100 swimmers—from Cebu, Davao, Manila and some to include foreign participants—will freestyle and breast-stroke their way along Mactan’s top beach resorts.

Who can join? Anyone who’s aged 14 and older. Cash prizes are P15,000, P10,000 and P5,000 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placers, respectively. The fee is P500 for PASA, TRAP, PFF and PhilSPADA members. These are the elite swimmers—those in varsity teams who compete regularly.

How about the recreational swimmers? Those who don’t aim to win but want to join to finish the challenge? Sure. Take Jay Aldeguer, the well-respected entrepreneur of Islands Banca Cruises—he finished the 5K swim last year and will join again next month.

Tonio? Of course. Last year, Mr. Aboitiz finished in a little over two hours—this despite pulling a string of gadgets that were wrapped in waterproof plastic: a cellphone, GPS unit and camera. “It was the most physically-draining activity I’ve ever done,” he said, “but what fun we had.”

With the amateur swimmers, what’s good is that the use fins, masks and snorkels are allowed. Those joining this category, though, have to pay P2,000. Why the bigger amount? Because this event is a fund-raiser: it aims to raise funds to build classrooms at the Candagsao Elem. School on Olango Island.

Interested to join? Call or email Riva Valles at 232-5270 / [email protected].

John Pages

By John Pages

I've been a sports columnist since 1994. First, in The Freeman newspaper under "Tennis Is My Game." Then, starting in 2003, with Sun.Star Cebu under the name "Match Point." Happy reading!

1 comment

  1. Whoa this is the first time I heard of a swimming marathon. The longest swim I knew was crossing the Mactan Channel.

    Good luck if you plan on joining.

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