By Aimee Lagman
FOR the first time in history, six Filipino open-water swimmers gathered together in one epic swim event, dubbed as “Reef Strokes,” to save the Verde Island Passage in celebration of World Oceans’ Day on June 8 and Coral Triangle Day on June 9.
Ocean advocates and pioneers in open-water swimming include Atty. Ingemar Macarine, also known as Pinoy Aquaman; Frank Lacson, the Father of Philippine Triathlon; Betsy Medalla and Julian Valencia, the first Filipinos to swim the Robben Island Channel in Cape Town, South Africa; Moi Yamoyam, former member of the Philippine Triathlon Team; and Mikey Villanueva, an open-water enthusiast.
Each of them swam 10 kilometers to create awareness on the condition of the Verde Island Passage (VIP), which is threatened by climate change, pollution and mining.
Popularly known as “The center of the center of marine shorefish biodiversity,” VIP sits in the center of the Coral Triangle, which is the world’s epicenter of marine life, and home to 319 species and 74 kinds of hard corals.
“Coral reefs give millions of people food and livelihoods. Reef strokes show how our collective ‘strokes’ will take us to the finish line, a world where productive oceans continue to give Filipinos with food, jobs and the very air we breathe,” World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma said.
For these six heroes of nature, it was no walk in the park. Despite their extensive experience, they had to swim through obstacles.
Mother Nature threw at them from rough currents, numerous bites from sea lice to jellyfish stings. But to them, it was a small price to pay for a bigger cause.
Each of them had a mission. For Yamoyam, “To inspire and start a movement in saving the seas through swimming,” but for most of them, that is to value the ocean for the younger generation to enjoy.
According to Villanueva, “We don’t get much to discover the islands and we are missing out.”
For Medalla: “The best way to enjoy and protect the seas is by swimming, and as a swimmer, it is natural.”
To prepare for this challenge, each swimmer had to invest in physical and mental training. This includes two-and-a-half to three-hour sessions four times a week, and targeting 5-km and 7-km distance in the pool before hitting the sea.
Of all the sports, swimming is nonnegotiable, a skill that saves lives and can lead to saving the environment.
A few tips from the pros before considering long-distance open-water swim: “Never swim alone, and join beginner-friendly open-water races. Start with 1-km [distance] before you increase the distance,” Medalla said.
It’s never too late to start swimming. Villanueva started swimming just last year, while Macarine, who swam 20 km in eight hours, started three years ago and he will be the first Filipino to cross the English Channel in August.
Reef Strokes is organized by WWF in partnership with Hamilo Coast, Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club, Pico Sands Hotel and Cebu Pacific.
Image credits: WWF-Philippines