Wake-uppers:
Seen:
Spotted in Bohol last Friday was former Ilocos Norte Governor Chavit Singson.
According to VRS, Singson visited Anda town for a possible business venture.
Scene: Feng
shui experts encourage everyone to throw away all the old stuff in our
house to make room for new blessings for the Chinese New Year (Feb. 8). They
also recommend wearing red to attract luck and fortune.
* * *
'Pinoy
Aquaman’ Ingemar Patiño Macarine has a goal: To swim the English Channel,
Catalina Channel and Marathon Island to promote clean seas, environmental
tourism and climate change awareness.
Macarine
has been swimming his whole life. Born in a small coastal town of Placer in
Surigao del Norte in Mindanao, he spent nearly every day of his childhood
swimming.
“I love
the seas. Never did I fear swimming in the open water. And I think my life is
very connected with water,” Macarine, who is an election officer of Tubigon
town in Bohol province, said.
He was
eight years old when he first dreamed about the possibility of swimming across
the Surigao Strait.
ENVIRONMENTAL
AND TRI-ATHLETE lawyer Ingemar Macarine:
‘I want our children to enjoy the same clean seas
and beaches.
That is my environmental advocacy.’ Contributed Photo
|
"I
learned to swim when I was in Grade 2. My friends and I just enjoyed swimming
near the seashores. I told my friends, 'I wonder if anybody could swim over
there," Macarine recalled.
In his
college days, he was a varsity swimmer at the Silliman University in Dumaguete
City.
Macarine
said he especially wants to connect with and educate young people, the
importance of clean seas. He also wants to raise awareness about climate
change.
Open-ocean
swimming is among the toughest sporting disciplines in the world, said
Macarine.
His first
open water swim was on Dec. 30, 2013. He was the first person to swim
successfully from Basul Island to Lipata, Surigao City.
“My first
open water swim was unforgettable because that was my first time to swim
against a strong current. Three of my companions gave up. I was the only
one who successfully crossed it,” he said.
But for
Macarine his latest challenge in Pamilacan Island in Bohol province last Jan.
31, was "the hardest and toughest yet". He completed the
gruelling 14-kilometer journey for 5 hours and 59 minutes.
He said
strong currents kept pulling him off course so he had to change direction at
least 14 times.
“It’s
very challenging. This is my toughest swim because of strong current and waves.
I had no choice but to use backstroke. The current changed several times and I
had really a very hard time swimming against the current,” said Macarine.
The
Pamilacan swim was his second in Bohol since he swam the 13.4-km stretch from
Balicasag Island to mainland Panglao Island in 2014 during the first
anniversary of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake. He did it to immortalize the
Boholanos who had perished during the earthquake.
LAWYER
Ingemar Macarine says that his Pamilacan
swim was the “hardest
and toughest yet.’
Contributed Photo
|
Swimming
in the open water is very safe so long as you have an escort boat, he
said.
Macarine
said he follows the Marathon Swimming Federation Rules and performs his solo
swimming without floating aid or help from any human or sea vessel.
The swim isn't
easy.
"You
need to be brave," he said. "And focus on what you’re doing."
At one
point, he had been stung by jellyfishes. Sometimes, strong currents and big
waves would somehow hinder his target. Through it all, he held his mantra
close: "Psalm 23...The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me
to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores
my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though
I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou
art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me...” His family-wife Raquel,
and children- Lance, 6; and Colyn, 4, are his inspiration.
He said
prior to his swim, he took time to read the Bible and pray.
"I
read the Bible when I am in doubt, and of course, for the Lord's guidance. And
my favorite is Psalm 23,” he said.
He has
since conquered seas in United States and Philippines.
Macarine
had done similar feats in the past. He was acknowledged as the first Filipino
to swim the 2.7-kilometer from Alcatraz Island Penitentiary to San Francisco
City in April 2014.
He was
also the first man to conquer the Babuyan Channel by swimming from Palaui
Island to Mainland Sta. Ana, Province of Cagayan with a distance of 7.2 km in 2
hours on June 15, 2014.
He was
also the first man to swim from Santa Fe in Bantayan Island to San Remigio in
mainland Cebu, covering the distance of 19.99 km. He spent seven hours and 45
minutes to reach mainland Cebu.
He was
also the first man who attempted to swim from Visayas to Mindanao by
swimming from San Ricardo, Southern Leyte to Surigao City, Northern Mindanao.
Although the swim was unsuccessful, he made a personal record of swimming 23
kilometers in five and half hours in May 2014.
Macarine
was selected as one of the three Heroes of the Environment for 2015 by the
World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF).
“I am so
happy that I can inspire more people to care more for the marine
environment,'" he said.
At 39,
Macarine said he is in good health, and just wants to do his part in bringing
about peace and friendship, as well as clean seas.
“I want
our children to enjoy the same clean seas and beaches. That is my environmental
advocacy,” he said, “Clean seas are very important today for the future
generations.”
* * *
Thanks for your
letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow
leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment