Zamboanga City bets Austin John Hampac and Jetro Paul Abilla made a strong 1-2 finish in the premier 5KM category of the first leg of the 1st Zamboanga Peninsula Open Water Swim Circuit (ZPOWSC) recently held at the eco-cultural tourism site “Onse Islas” of Zamboanga City.
Zamboanga City Mayor John Dalipe joined the kick-off at Barangay Panubigan for the event that drew 114 participants from all Zamboanga, Manila, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and neighboring provinces with 54 competitors in the 5KM distance swim, 11 participants for the 3.5KM distance and 47 for 2KM distance.
The event, led by the Department of Tourism Region 9 and sponsored by the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, was organized by the Zamboanga Open Water Swimming Club Inc. in collaboration with the City Government of Zamboanga through its Local Tourism Office, Zamboanga City Police Office, 1st Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company, Philippine Coast Guard-Zamboanga, Zamboanga City Health Office, Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and Onse Islas Community Organizations (11 Islands Ferry Association and 11 Islands Tour Guide Association).
Placing third in the 5K event was Jie Mark Emol of Pagadian City. Topping the 5KM event for 1-2-3 finishes were Jeddreauf Marrack (Zamboanga City), Henzpazeer Adjilani (Basilan), and Raisan Mansul ( Zamboanga City).
Winners in the 3.5KM category were Kevin Espina (Iligan City), Berto Abdulhamid- (Zamboanga) and GJ Joash Quiljoy of Iligan City
In attendance were Mayor John Dalipe, City Mayor of Zamboanga, Councilor and Tourism Committee Chair Vino Guingona, City Councilor Jerome “Joey Papaya” Santos, Hon. Manuel Dalipe, Former City Mayor of Zamboanga , Undersecretary Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar of the Office of the Secretary, DOT-IX Regional Director, Dara May L. Cataluňa and Mr. Japy T. Silapan, President of the Zamboanga Open Water Swimming Club Inc.
Anchored on human-nature connection advocacy with the primary aim to protect and conserve the environment, support community-based tourism empowerment and women-led associations, and inspiring IP groups with potential talent in swimming, ZPOWSC is seen as another diversified tourism product portfolio and maximization of domestic promotion aligned with the current thrusts and 7-point priority agenda of Secretary Frasco.
Celebrated during the conduct of the 1st leg are community builders and tourism workers of the Onse Islas Community Organization. Women–led Kulinarya Tourism Program recipients exhibited their food wonders and presentation for the lunch while men-led transportation and logistics on site also showed their recent skills learned during the Capacity Building training conducted by the Department of Tourism IX.
Zamboanga Open Water Swimming Club Inc. tap[ped the community for the food provision and logistical requirements along with “Team Huga Lodo” a non-profit outdoor sports organization in Zamboanga City to further emphasize the advocacy of the project, community support, collaboration, and empowerment.
The project was conceptualized by the former Regional Director of the Department of Tourism -9, Crisanta Marlene “Krisma” P. Rodriguez and Zamboanga Open Water Swimming Club Inc. with the primary objective to introduce sports tourism anchored on conservation and community-based tourism support.
Aside from finisher medals and shirts, two special awards will be given to male and female swimmers who will complete all four legs namely god Agwe (for male) and goddess Magnaye (for female), both are Philippine Mythology characters who rule the water element. Awards are to be presented during the final leg in Zamboanga del Norte.
ZPOWSC pending legs are Buluan Island, Zamboanga Sibugay on Mach 19, Lake Maragang, Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur on April 16, and May 14, for the Finale Leg at Dakak, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.
Interested participants may visit the link https://forms.gle/9sNx8HognqR3qZLU8 Closing for leg 2 Buluan Island will be on February 28, 2023. More information about the event is also available on the Zamboanga peninsula Open Water Swim Circuit 2022 Facebook page.
