‘It’s The Toughest,’ Pinoy Aquaman Says Of Pamilacan Is.–Baclayon Solo Swim

Triathlete-lawyer Ingemar Pateño Macarine a.k.a. ‘Pinoy Aquaman’ said that the his solo swim crossing the 15.5- kilometer sea from Pamilacan island to Baclayon Sunday was rough, in fact, “it was the toughest.”

Macarine, who slept in Pamilacan island a day before his swim, said he changed course more than 10 times because of the rough seas and the current going opposite to his direction en route to the municipal port of this town, about six kilometers east of capital Tagbilaran City.

Macarine clocked 5 hours and 59 minutes crossing 15.5 kms. after starting at five early morning. He said in an interview that he was to set foot somewhere in Dauis just to go with the current but when it slowed down, he directed his swim to his target — the port here.

While saying that there was no jellyfish and other unfriendly creatures on his way, his crossing was to promote tourism of this town, where the oldest stone church struck by earthquake is located, and for clean seas. He added that the sea around Pamilacan, once a haven of whaleshark’s fishers, is crystal clean.

When asked about his readiness, Macarine said he prepared a lot like swimming three to four times a day for four days prior to the actual plunge. And he reads the Bible before that, he said.

Macarine was welcomed by a handful of well-wishers, like the Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Bohol chapter, local people, who took photos with him. The swim, he said, was made possible through the support of this town’s officials led by Mayor Atty. Alvin Uy and the IBP-Bohol.

Prior to this, he crossed in non-stop swim the Surigao Strait the other week.

He said his next target would be somewhere in Europe but he did not name what country, in August, after the Subic crossing in March this year.

He had conquered the 6.4 kilometers distance between Panggangan island and Cabilao island, off Loon town and the dive spot of Balicasag island, off Panglao town, by non-stop swimming last year.

Macarine, 39, is the election officer of Tubigon town and a World Wide Fund-Philippines environmental hero.

After his nomination, Macarine placed third in overall voting on-line to the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) “Man of the Year” award.

On its website, WOWSA, a renowned swimming organization based in Huntington, California, USA, said “Macarine has transitioned from a middle-aged triathlete to an inspirational open water swimmer with a large national fan base and big dreams. He has significantly energized the Filipino open water swimming community with his unprecedented several solo marathon swims throughout his native Philippines over the last 3 years.”

It added: “For his enthusiastic love of open water swimming adventures, for devising all types of unprecedented crossings in a country where many thousands of more pioneering swims are possible, and for his dream of attempting many more ocean and channel swims, Ingemar Patiño Macarine is a worthy nominee for the 2015 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year.”(PNA) FPV/RVO/PJN