PANGLAO, Bohol (MindaNews/13 November) – Environmental lawyer and marathon swimmer Ingemar “Pinoy Aquaman” Macarine bucked strong currents on Sunday to complete his swim from Pamilacan Island (not Balicasag Island as reported earlier) to Panglao Island in this province.
He finished the swim despite suffering a sore shoulder after being in the water for almost two hours.
“All of a sudden I had a problem with my right shoulder,” Macarine told reporters who covered his swim.
Lawyer Ingemar Macarine rejoices after finishing the swim on Sunday, 12 November 2017. MindaNews photo by ROEL N. CATOTO
“I was thinking of abandoning the swim because of the painful right shoulder,” he said, adding he got it during his intense training.
He had to make quick stops in between to seek relief by raising his right hand.
Macarine started his swim at 6:30 a.m. from Pamilacan Island, which is part of Baclayon town.
It took him six hours and 43 minutes to complete the swim with a total distance of 17.83 kilometers.
Macarine got into open-water swims as part of his lifetime advocacy for marine resource protection, environmental tourism and climate change awareness.
His attempt on Sunday aimed to promote cleaner seas and tourism in Panglao.
“I hope the swim will encourage or inspire fellow Filipinos to take care of our marine environment,” he said.
The Pamilacan-Panglao swim was Macarine’s 34th open water swim, 17th marathon swim in his career and 7th marathon swim in Bohol seas.
His swims in Bohol include the October 2013 Balicasag Swim, the 15-km Pamilacan-Baclayon swim in January 2015, the 16-km Bohol-Cebu swim in June 2016, the 17-km Bohol-Maasin City swim in November 2016, the 13-km Calape-Loon swim in May 2017, and the 18-km Cebu-Bohol swim in June 2017.
Macarine said the swim was part of his preparation for his last and final attempt to conquer the English Channel, a swimming route considered the “Mt. Everest” for open-water swimming, in August 2018.
Last August, Macarine had to stop his bid to cross the English Channel due to unfavorable weather condition. A year earlier, he also had to cancel the 33-kilometer cold waters because of bad weather.
Pinoy Aquaman swims from Pamilacan Island to Panglao Island in Bohol with a total distance of 17.83 kilometers in six hours and 43 minutes on Sunday, 12 November 2017. MindaNews photo by ROEL N. CATOTO
Dann Diez, an environmentalist who heads the Let’s Do It Philippines and has watched the entire swim course of the Pinoy Aquaman, said he was stunned by his latest prowess.
“Even his right shoulder was aching I thought he will abort the swim but he decided to go on and reached the shore of Panglao,” he said, adding he got inspired by Macarine’s campaign for clean and healthy seas.
Diez said he’s happy that Macarine is supporting the World Cleanup Day on Sept. 15, 2018.
Macarine earned the moniker “Pinoy Aquaman” for setting records as the only Filipino who has ventured into open-water swimming in several parts of the country and abroad. (Roel N. Catoto/MindaNews)
