Dipolog City bets made a big splash in the recent fourth and final leg of the Zamboanga Peninsula Open Water Swim by dominating most of the categories in the race held at the famous cove of Dakak Park and Beach Resort in Dapitan City.
Gako Sky of Negros Occidental topped the premier 5KM swim in the men’s division while Summer Clarise Pacatang of Dipolog City topped the women’s side.
Pacatang ruled the women’s 5KM contest in 1 hour, 21 minutes, and 37 seconds edging out rivals Shulammite Bantay and Nicholai Jaafar who times 1:24:35 and 1:39:49 respectively. Among the men, Gaco won by a slim margin over his nearest competitor Austin John Hampac timing 1:12:12 and 1:12:18. At 3rd was John Abdul with 1:15:44.
In addition to the honors achieved, the 5KM swim champion will get to participate in an international event of the TriFactor Triathlon Festival slated for July 30 in Singapore.
Other champions in the event supported by the Department of Tourism Region 9 initiative, the Zamboanga Open Water Swim Club and Atrive, were Kiara Ramiella Eroy (Women’s 3Km), Jesus Duque Vil (Men’s 3Km), Milliza Syla Tanginan (Women’s 1km) and Kent Jade Pareja (Men’s 1.5Km).
Jesus Duque and Kiara Eroy, both from Dipolog City, won top honors in the men’s and women’s 3KM races, respectively.
Jade Pareja of Dipolog City and Milliza Tanginan of Zamboanga City dominated the men’s 1.5KM and women’s 1KM races, respectively.
The Zamboanga Open Water Swim’s fourth and final leg at Dakak in Zamboanga del Norte was more than a showcase of bright prospects in long-distance swimming but also the beauty of the seascape of the southern part of the Philippines.
More than 200 swimmers, including the youngest participant at six years of age as well as celebrity mixed martial arts champion Mark Striegl, participated in the circuit that aims to promote Zamboanga Peninsula as a sports tourism destination.
The first three legs of the open swim circuit took place in Zamboanga City’s seaport, at Buluan Island in Zamboanga Sibugay, and at the scenic and heart-shaped Lake Magarang in Zamboanga del Sur.
With the success of the Zampen Open Water Swim Circuit 2023, the DOT is convinced that more sports tourism activities should be activated in Mindanao, especially in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Lana Jalosjos of Dakak Park and Beach Resorts agreed that sports tourism is one of the best ways to attract tourists because passionate athletes—local and international– will go out of their way to try the best things Mindanao could offer.