Atty. Ingemar “Pinoy Aquaman” Macarine. MindaNews file photo by Roel N. Catoto
DUMAGUETE CITY (MindaNews / 18 April) – Triathlete and environmental lawyer Ingemar “Pinoy Aquaman” Macarine will endure a record-setting 22-kilometer open water swim across Tañon Strait, between Negros Oriental and the “enchanted island” of Siquijor, on Wednesday (19 April 2017).
Macarine will kick off from Silliman Beach here to Siquijor.
He is gunning for his 27th successful open water swim since December 31, 2013.
Macarine, who hails from Placer, Surigao del Norte, finished only five open water swims last year as he was preparing for the English Channel swim which he eventually cancelled last August due to bad weather. He usually completes at least 10 marathon swims a year.
“This swim from Dumaguete to Siquijor is a one-way crossing with a total distance of 22 kilometers. I’m expecting to complete the swim in 7 to ten 10 depending on the current,” Macarine told the press today.
Macarine went into open water swimming as part of his lifetime advocacy for clean seas, marine resource protection, environmental tourism and climate change awareness.
In this Dumaguete-Siquijor swim, he is hoping to help in the campaign to urge voters to go out and register.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has opened voter registration in connection with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October.
Macarine himself is the COMELEC’s election officer in the municipality of Tubigon in Bohol.
“It takes Pinoy Aquaman 10 hours to swiftly swim across the waters of the Tañon Strait but it only takes you 10 minutes to register as a voter,” said Atty. Eddie G. Aba, Provincial Elections Supervisor IV of Negros Oriental.
He said that 75 percent have so far registered in the province and urged the rest to go out and register before the April 29 deadline.
Macarine’s Dumaguete-Siquijor swim tomorrow is sponsored by the COMELEC.
This is a sentimental swim for Macarine because he was once part of the swimming varsity team of Silliman University during his college days.
April last year, he also swam Tañon Strait, although a shorter 14.7-kilometer distance starting in the neighboring municipality of Dauin to Apo Island.
Last Sunday, Pinoy Aquaman also swam seven kilometers around Britania Islands, a group of islands in San Agustin town in Surigao del Sur. (Roel N. Catoto / MindaNews)
