You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>2017</strong> ALL SOULS REGATTA<br />
SIARGAO CLOUD 9 SURFING CUP<br />
<strong>2017</strong> AUTUMN REGATTA<br />
FISHING AN OLYMPIC SPORT?<br />
MURPHY’S FUN IN PALAWAN<br />
CEBU LIFEGUARD RESCUE <strong>2017</strong><br />
BONIFACIO CUP<br />
SAILING TIPS<br />
Sunseeker 95 page 25<br />
Destination<br />
CEBU<br />
DEC <strong>2017</strong> Vol. VI Issue 4<br />
ACTIVE BOATING & WATERSPORTS<br />
1<br />
PhP150
2
3
All Souls<br />
REGATTA<br />
4
Within the Philippine sailing calendar<br />
there are many bewitching regattas<br />
where idyllic scenery, elegantly graceful yachts<br />
and a friendly competitive spirit are combined with<br />
a robust joie de vivre. The Royal Cargo ‘All Souls<br />
Regatta’ held each year at Puerto Galera is among<br />
the best of them. Even before getting there, the<br />
seaward approach to Puerto Galera via Verde Island<br />
and the Batangas Channel is<br />
one of the most photographed,<br />
and most photogenic, sights in<br />
the archipelago and all visitors<br />
to the Philippines should<br />
witness it at least once.<br />
This year the ‘All Souls Regatta’<br />
was held between October 29<br />
and 31. For those yachties<br />
who like to combine a spot<br />
of benign sailing in delightful<br />
surroundings followed by<br />
more than a few drinks among<br />
like minded companions will<br />
do well to keep an eye on the<br />
PGYC website for the <strong>2017</strong><br />
regatta dates. And, just for<br />
the sheer hell of it, throw in a<br />
fancy dress costume or two to get the most out of<br />
the Halloween party.<br />
With a record number of entries the Puerto Galera<br />
Yacht Club’s <strong>2017</strong> All Souls Regatta has been voted<br />
the best yet, the Royal Cargo sponsored event<br />
attracted entries from as far afield as Hong Kong,<br />
Australia, Germany and France to name just a few<br />
of the countries.<br />
And, just for the<br />
sheer hell of it, throw<br />
in a fancy dress<br />
costume or two to get<br />
the most out of the<br />
Halloween party.<br />
The weather Gods smiled on competitors with<br />
winds averaging around 15 knots. Albeit there was<br />
some heavy rain storms which did not deter the<br />
competitiveness of these well-seasoned sailors.<br />
In keeping with PGYC tradition all racing was done<br />
on a pursuit basis, with slowest boats starting<br />
first. This worked to perfection with the fleet<br />
finishing within a time frame<br />
of approximately 30 minutes.<br />
Major sponsor was the ever<br />
faithful Royal Cargo, which<br />
has supported the regatta for<br />
many years.<br />
Sponsor numbers were at an all<br />
time high this year with several<br />
newcomers that included<br />
the government body,<br />
the Philippine Retirement<br />
Authority, sea plane agent<br />
Air Juan, Hyde Sails, Papaya<br />
Cove Yacht Charter Services,<br />
and Rayomarine. Other major<br />
sponsors included Broadwater<br />
Marine.<br />
The racing was divided into three classes, Multi<br />
hulls, Racing division and Cruising division.<br />
Competing this year there were six multi-hulls,<br />
twelve in the cruising class and eight in the racing<br />
class with Kareem Magill on sroka in a special class,<br />
a total of twenty seven competing in this year’s<br />
regatta, making it one of the top events on the<br />
Philippine sailing calendar.<br />
Words by<br />
BARRY<br />
DAWSON<br />
Photographs<br />
as credited<br />
Soars to New Heights<br />
5
Each night at prize<br />
giving, bottles of fine<br />
rum were handed out<br />
to the class winner<br />
and place getters.<br />
Each night at prize giving, bottles of fine rum were<br />
handed out to the class winner and place getters<br />
and on the final night, trophies befitting the<br />
occasion were presented to the overall winners.<br />
Overall winner of the regatta was the Multi hull<br />
MYG2 skippered by Vincent Ruais. Second overall<br />
was Bella Uno skippered by Michiel Brinkers, third<br />
was Hanafe, skippered by Peter Stevens.<br />
In concert with the All Souls Regatta was a PGYC<br />
Junior Sailing regatta held the week before the main<br />
event. The juniors’ prizes were presented by Peter<br />
Stevens. And the winners were in the SWOPTI, 1st<br />
was James, 2nd Arnel and 3rd Dave. In the SW<br />
Larwin, Michael and Jelly were 1st , Dave and Jhon<br />
Mell were 2nd and in 3rd was James and Marvin.<br />
In the PGYC OP Dave Tala came 1st, Justine Danao<br />
2nd and Jimboy 3rd. In the OP Open 1st place<br />
went to Jonvic Valasques, in 2nd place was Jerald<br />
Carreon while Julius Danao took 3rd spot. In the<br />
Lawin Nov. 1st place went to Jordan Danao and<br />
6
DEDICATED ENGINEERING SPECIALISTS<br />
7
Ace Guiral, Justin Danao and Kent Mart Almondia<br />
were 2nd while in 3rd was Orlyn Abanilla and Carl<br />
John Reyes. And the winners in the open class<br />
were 1st Carl John Reyes and Jervin Alumisin, 2nd<br />
was Alvin Populi and Darius Garcia, with Kent Mart<br />
Alomondia and Reymark Ronquillo in 3rd.<br />
Again the racing was well organized and the winds<br />
were on occasions kind, which seen good starts to<br />
all races each day during the 3 day event. After<br />
some very competitive racing top overall honors of<br />
the <strong>2017</strong> Royal Cargo All Souls Regatta went to<br />
Ricky White and crew bring Zenity into 3rd Place,<br />
while Brian Richardson and crew seen Amihan<br />
over the line in 2nd place, with top honors going<br />
to Gary Kingshott and crew on Kerida in a wellearned<br />
1st place.<br />
The racing was<br />
well organized and<br />
the winds were on<br />
occasions kind.<br />
8
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK<br />
As <strong>2017</strong> draws to an end it has been a memorable year has been<br />
recorded with many things happening on the Philippine sailing calendar<br />
from great events to unfortunate mishaps like the loss of craft due to<br />
inclement weather conditions in the <strong>2017</strong> Hobie Challenge, to your<br />
favourite boating magazine being awarded the Golden Globes for<br />
Business Excellence. We can now brace ourselves and prepare for a<br />
bigger and better 2018 sailing calendar, from the Rolex China Sea Race,<br />
The Subic to Boracay and Boracay Cup, Punta Fuego Regatta to the All<br />
Souls Regatta and RTV at Lake Taal. Plus the many other watersports<br />
events during the year.<br />
This edition we revisited Cebu to expand on the many things this great<br />
city of The Philippines has to offer, like the many attractions in the<br />
provinces.<br />
In our 1st edition for 2018 we will be exposing the Province of Iloilo and<br />
everything they have to offer.<br />
Lastly for this year we would like to take the opportunity to wish all our<br />
readers, advertisers and supporters the very best for the festive season<br />
and an even better 2018<br />
WHAT’S INSIDE?<br />
All Souls Regatta Soars to New Heights 4<br />
Monteiro Triumphant at Siargao 12<br />
Cloud 9 Surfing Cup<br />
<strong>2017</strong> Autumn Regatta Day 1 20<br />
Golden Globes Awards Active Boating 28<br />
Murphy’s Fun in Palawan 32<br />
Cebu Lifeguard Rescue <strong>2017</strong> 40<br />
<strong>2017</strong> Bonifacio Cup Regatta 46<br />
Destination - CEBU 48<br />
2018 Zambales Lifeguard Challenge 74<br />
Sailing Tips - Equipment for Berthing 78<br />
Will Fishing Become an Olympic Sport? 80<br />
Oz Goose Nationals Regatta 84<br />
Barry Dawson Editor<br />
Sunseeker 95, p25<br />
Sunseeker 95<br />
Cover photo courtesy of HYS YACHTS Philippines<br />
Ho Ho Ho<br />
Happy Holidays!<br />
Active Boating Magazine trophy, p28<br />
Published quarterly by: <strong>ABW</strong> PUBLISHING<br />
House 16, Madrigal Compound, 2550 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City<br />
Editor & Production: BARRY DAWSON<br />
Contributing Writers: BRUCE CURRAN & JAMES WEBSTER<br />
Contributing Photographers: TERRY DUCKHAM & JOHNNY MARTINEZ<br />
Advertising: 551-4587/ 0928-714-4461<br />
Email: info@activeboatingwatersports.com<br />
Website: www.activeboatingwatersports.com<br />
Printed by: House Printers, Taytay, Rizal, Philippines<br />
Active Boating and Watersports is a copyright© production<br />
No part can be copied or reproduced without the express<br />
permission of the publishers.<br />
The views expressed and advertisements published in Active Boating & Watersports<br />
are those of the authors and advertisers, and not <strong>ABW</strong> Publishing.<br />
<strong>ABW</strong> Publishing does not accept any liability whatsoever for errors or omissions.<br />
9
The All Souls Regatta is not just about racing,<br />
with the club in full-on party mode each night.<br />
Entertainment included live music and the inevitable<br />
karaoke. Halloween night was celebrated with<br />
crews competing for prizes by dressing in ghostly<br />
and in some cases totally outrageous costumes.<br />
This year was no exception with some outrageous<br />
costumes and everyone getting into the spirit of<br />
the evening’s festivities, like Alan Burrell and Suzie<br />
our prehistoric cave dwellers who had to be one of<br />
the best on the night. After the last day of racing<br />
it was back to the every day work grind but with<br />
big smiles and anticipation of a bigger and better<br />
2018 Royal Cargo All Souls Regatta.<br />
Halloween night was<br />
celebrated with crews<br />
competing for prizes<br />
by dressing in ghostly<br />
costumes.<br />
10
11
SURFING<br />
Monteiro T<br />
AT <strong>2017</strong> SIARG<br />
12
iumphant<br />
GAO CLOUD 9<br />
G CUP<br />
Words by<br />
BARRY<br />
DAWSON<br />
Photographs<br />
as credited<br />
Brad Gerlach<br />
Cloud 9, Siargao/Philippines, (Wednesday,<br />
September 27, <strong>2017</strong>) - After an epic<br />
four days of competition, Raoni Monteiro<br />
(BRA) has been crowned the Champion of the<br />
<strong>2017</strong> Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup. In its first year<br />
as a World Surf League Qualifying Series (QS)<br />
3,000 event, Cloud 9 didn’t<br />
disappoint with great waves<br />
on offer all week including<br />
the final day where<br />
competitors had clean 2-to-<br />
3 foot high-performance<br />
waves to lay into.<br />
Competitors had<br />
clean 2-to-3 foot<br />
high-performance<br />
waves to lay into.<br />
In an event filled with<br />
excitement and pumping<br />
waves, the most thrilling<br />
heat of all was hands-down the Final. Former elite<br />
Championship Tour (CT) competitor Monteiro came<br />
up against Costa Rica’s Thomas King (CRI). The lead<br />
went back and forward between the two throughout<br />
the 35-minute final with King holding the lead into<br />
the dying minutes. Needing a solid 7.17 (out of a<br />
possible 10) in the dying seconds, Monteiro took<br />
off on a medium set wave and got busy. The score<br />
came in at an 8.03 giving Monteiro the win with a<br />
heat total of 17.06.<br />
13
Thomas King with 2nd place finish<br />
“I can’t even explain how happy I am right now,”<br />
Monteiro said. “Right at the end when I saw that<br />
wave came I knew it as the one and I knew I could<br />
do it. This has been a really amazing event for me.<br />
It is my first time here in the Philippines and the<br />
waves have so good, we have all been really spoiled<br />
with the waves we got and everyone was ripping so<br />
I feel really lucky to come<br />
out on top.”<br />
“I have been working<br />
really hard on my<br />
comeback and training<br />
hard.” -Monteiro<br />
Day 4 Raoni wins<br />
After a myriad of knee<br />
injuries forced Monteiro<br />
off the CT in 2014, he took<br />
some time to focus on<br />
family and time at home.<br />
In <strong>2017</strong>, he has returned<br />
to competitive surfing<br />
arena and is determined to<br />
return to the elite level. This win not only gives him<br />
3000 raking points but the confidence to know he<br />
can still mix it with the best and win events - a feat<br />
he last accomplished at the prestigious Vans World<br />
Cup at Sunset Beach in 2010.<br />
“The last event I won was Sunset so it has been a<br />
while since I had this feeling,” Monteiro continued.<br />
“I have been working really hard on my comeback<br />
and training hard. It is so nice when all of the hard<br />
In form surfer<br />
Raoni Monteiro<br />
14
Design + Performance and Legendary Performance Fabrics are trademarks and Sunbrella ® is a registered trademark of Glen Raven, Inc.<br />
Being on the water is<br />
about enjoying your boat<br />
above and below deck.<br />
Sunbrella ® marine fabrics have been the trusted choice<br />
of boaters around the world for over 50 years, providing<br />
legendary fade proof, bleach cleanable and ease of<br />
cleaning properties. From upholstery solutions with a<br />
soft, inviting hand to bold canvas coverings, Sunbrella<br />
offers excellent protection from the elements and a<br />
distinct design aesthetic.<br />
Sunbrella marine fabrics create a comfortable, relaxing<br />
boating experience for all on board. Sunbrella’s<br />
luxuriously soft upholstery fabrics make any space feel<br />
inviting when applied as cushions, sunpads, decorative<br />
pillows and berth covers. From basic canvas textiles to<br />
designer jacquards, Sunbrella has thousands of quality<br />
upholstery fabrics to choose from to create a look all<br />
your own. On deck, water-resistant yet breathable canvas<br />
keeps heat from getting trapped while providing sun<br />
protection, and is ideal for dodgers, biminis, sail covers<br />
and boat covers.<br />
Sunbrella marine fabrics offer the ultimate defense<br />
in harsh marine environments while maintaining<br />
their durability, integrity and beauty. The legendary<br />
performance of Sunbrella fabric is engineered into the<br />
core of every fiber, creating powerful protection against<br />
fading, mold, mildew, and constant exposure to sun,<br />
salt and chlorine. If stains occur, Sunbrella fabrics can be<br />
cleaned with bleach without losing color or performance.<br />
With the best warranties on the market, Sunbrella<br />
marine fabrics are designed to last season after season.<br />
Sunbrella shade fabrics carry a 10-year limited warranty,<br />
and specialty shade and upholstery fabrics carry a<br />
5-year limited warranty.<br />
LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE FABRICS<br />
<br />
SUNBRELLA.COM<br />
FADE PROOF / EASY CARE / BLEACH CLEANABLE<br />
15
Seb Williams<br />
work pays off. The most important thing I have<br />
gained from this win is confidence in my surfing and<br />
my ability to surf contests. I can’t wait for the next<br />
event in Brazil.”<br />
Thomas King (CRI) had Monteiro on the ropes until<br />
the final seconds and looked to almost become the<br />
event champion. Falling just short was not an issue<br />
for 21-year-old King who surfed an incredible event<br />
and will leave the Philippines with his best QS result<br />
to date.<br />
“This is the best place I’ve been in my life,” King<br />
said. “It is beautiful and the waves are sick, I’ve had<br />
an amazing week. This is by far my best result so<br />
I’m just happy to surf in<br />
“This is the best<br />
place I’ve been in my<br />
life,” King said. “It<br />
is beautiful and the<br />
waves are sick.”<br />
a final, especially with<br />
a former CT surfer like<br />
Raoni. He was surfing so<br />
well and I’m really stoked<br />
for him that he won.”<br />
On his way to the Final,<br />
Monteiro overcame<br />
Peruvian ripper Lucca<br />
Messinas (PER) in an<br />
epic semifinal. Messinas looked in incredible form<br />
posting a solid heat total of 14.93 for his quick<br />
forehand attack. Monteiro had other ideas how<br />
ever posting a massive heat total of 18.07 leaving<br />
Messinas to finish the event in equal third place, his<br />
best QS result to date.<br />
Yuuki Nakashio<br />
Piso Alcala<br />
16<br />
“I’m really happy with my performance here,”<br />
Messinas said. “I have never had a result this good<br />
in a QS so I’m stoked. This event has been so good<br />
with some amazing waves, definitely the best waves<br />
I’ve seen for a QS event. This was my first time in the<br />
Philippines as well and I loved it – it’s an epic spot<br />
here at Cloud 9.”<br />
Podium finalists group
Connecting the Philippine islands<br />
like never before!<br />
DAILY FROM MANILA to BORACAY, CORON, PUERTO GALERA & SUBIC<br />
BORACAY TO CORON Direct flights on Tuesdays and Fridays<br />
Whether for business or leisure, we’ll fly you to where you need to go.<br />
Whether it’s for that dream vacation in some of the country’s powder<br />
fine white-sand beaches; or to seal that business deal out of the<br />
metropolis, we’ll take you there with comfort, ease and style.<br />
Book and Pay Online Now<br />
For bookings & reservations:<br />
www.airjuan.com<br />
or contact landline: +632 7188111<br />
Porto del sol<br />
17
18
L E O P A R D<br />
Welcome the newest addition to the<br />
award-winning fleet<br />
DEDICATED ENGINEERING SPECIALISTS<br />
19
<strong>2017</strong><br />
Autumn<br />
Regatta<br />
Day 1<br />
20
Eighty eight boats turned out for the first day of<br />
the Autumn Regatta with much speculation on<br />
whether the breeze would also join the fleet due to two<br />
typhoons in the region doing<br />
their best to suck the breeze out<br />
of Hong Kong.<br />
It was a day of challenging<br />
conditions for racing with nine<br />
starts to get away. Racing was<br />
initially delayed as the wind had<br />
swung 180 degrees requiring<br />
the marks to be reset and new<br />
course selections made.<br />
Racing kicked off at 1411hrs<br />
with easterly courses chosen<br />
starting from Hung Hom. The<br />
The track turned into<br />
a huge drifter with<br />
racers battling it out<br />
in no breeze and the<br />
tide against them.<br />
first fleets to set off were the J/80s and Sports Boats,<br />
the Etchells (after a general recall) and Impalas. The<br />
Flying Fifteen sequence was postponed as the wind<br />
dropped, and then restarted<br />
in the new westerly breeze.<br />
The westerly breeze resulted in<br />
downwind starts for following<br />
fleets, the Dragons set out next<br />
with all other starts thereafter<br />
setting off in six minute intervals.<br />
The later starters got the benefit<br />
of the breeze and caught up to<br />
the rest of the fleet but when<br />
they approached the huge hole<br />
off of Tai Koo Shing the track<br />
turned into a huge drifter with<br />
racers battling it out in no breeze<br />
Words by<br />
RHKYC<br />
Photographs by<br />
RHKYC/ Guy<br />
Nowell<br />
21
and the tide against them. The hole eventually resulted<br />
in a massive pile up at the Top Mark where almost half<br />
of the fleet tried to round the mark at the same time.<br />
After the pile up (which resulted in a few protests<br />
being heard after racing), the westerly wind caught up<br />
to the fleet and sent the fleet up the course, reports<br />
came in from around the race track of first 6kts then<br />
a few minutes later 14kts. The first boat to cross the<br />
finish line at Hung Hom was J/80 Footloose at 15h<br />
58m 12s with all boats finished racing by 16h 33m 10s.<br />
Today’s race was also designated as the Royal Hong<br />
Kong Yacht Club Bart’s Bash <strong>2017</strong> – “the biggest sailing<br />
event in the world”. Bart’s Bash is a global charity<br />
fund-raising<br />
sailing race<br />
taking place<br />
at 100s of<br />
venues, with<br />
1000s of<br />
Bart’s Bash <strong>2017</strong> –<br />
“the biggest sailing<br />
event in the world.”<br />
22
23
Going into racing today,<br />
the Royal Hong Kong<br />
Yacht Club was listed as<br />
the Top Venue with the<br />
most participants.<br />
sailors in 100s of different classes of boat around the<br />
world. Going into racing today, the Royal Hong Kong<br />
Yacht Club was listed as the Top Venue with the most<br />
participants.<br />
This year’s event is supported by sponsors St. James’s<br />
Place who are continuing their collaborations with<br />
the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club after an incredibly<br />
successful Sunset Series. Joining them are new<br />
sponsors, ICE Yachts, who will begin a multi-event<br />
partnership that sees them also involved in the<br />
Around the Island Race and the Spring Regatta and<br />
Foundation Global Education who also begin a wider<br />
partnership with the Club engaging in sailing events<br />
and classes/courses for the younger members of the<br />
Club. Partnering with the event are ETA Logistics and<br />
The Artist who will be providing<br />
their unique brand of Craft<br />
Beer for the prizegiving event<br />
tomorrow evening.<br />
For more information please<br />
visit the Club website<br />
Autumn Regatta -<br />
http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/<br />
AutumnRegatta.aspx<br />
Bart’s Bash - http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/bartsbash.<br />
aspx<br />
24
25
Words by<br />
BARRY<br />
DAWSON<br />
Photographs<br />
as credited<br />
With the arrival in the Philippines of the<br />
newly designed Sunseeker 95 Yacht, it is<br />
about to set new standards in luxury boating in the<br />
Philippine Archipelago. A magnificent performance<br />
craft the Sunseeker 95 Yacht<br />
exemplifies the latest in cuttingedge<br />
design and innovation,<br />
showcasing a new and exciting<br />
design with a streamlined yet<br />
spacious elegance. Everything<br />
stems from the raised<br />
wheelhouse. While this does<br />
add to the height and bulk of<br />
the yacht’s external profile,<br />
the advantages that it creates<br />
inside are immeasurable, the<br />
design and spacious luxury<br />
demonstrating a clever use of<br />
space that gives even greater<br />
flexibility and freedom on<br />
board this superbly designed<br />
superyacht.<br />
Everything about<br />
the Sunseeker 95<br />
exudes elegance,<br />
glamour, style and<br />
luxury.<br />
HYS Yachts of Subic Bay Philippines, renowned for<br />
their expert craftsmanship and who are fully focused<br />
on customer service, was the ideal choice to be<br />
appointed as Sunseeker dealer in the Philippines.<br />
It is the only full service yacht<br />
repair and service facility in<br />
the Philippines with the skills<br />
and passion that is required<br />
to meet the Sunseeker factory<br />
requirements for product and<br />
customer support.<br />
Sunseeker<br />
Sets New Standards in<br />
the Philippines<br />
Mr. Luke Prince of Sunseeker<br />
Philippines stated that excellent<br />
product support is the key to a<br />
happy customer and good sales<br />
growth.<br />
HYS is also currently building its<br />
own 400 ton floating dock to<br />
cater for the Sunseeker range.<br />
26
Mr. Mark Prangnell of HYS yachts noted that<br />
Sunseeker Philippines will be the only yacht dealer<br />
in the country that can offer the complete facility<br />
and support expected by the clients. Sunseeker<br />
is known for being one of the best, and HYS is<br />
clearly the best choice in the Philippines.<br />
The new Sunseeker 95 was delivered this month<br />
to the HYS facility Subic Bay. This superb example<br />
of craftsmanship and design is set to take the<br />
yachting scene by storm here in the Philippines.<br />
Fully equipped for luxury entertaining, the 95<br />
yacht combines a superyacht feel with many<br />
practical advantages. Showing off a streamlined<br />
yet spacious elegance and demonstrating a<br />
clever use of space that gives even greater<br />
flexibility and freedom on-board. Innovations<br />
that are making the Sunseeker 95 unique, are<br />
designs that maximise space while combining it<br />
with luxury, designs like the owner’s suite which<br />
is set on three levels, with the bedroom on the<br />
main deck, a full-beam, marble-clad bathroom<br />
below, and a dressing area on the landing. All are<br />
linked by two flights of stairs. The arrangement<br />
is both spacious and spectacular, and the glass<br />
balustrade, curving stainless steel handrails,<br />
and mirrored wardrobes bordering the landing<br />
lend the scene a delicious air of glamour.<br />
Everything about the Sunseeker 95 exudes<br />
elegance, glamour, style and luxury from the first<br />
class appointed bridge comprising the latest in<br />
technology within everything in fingertip reach<br />
giving you complete control with ease, to the<br />
luxurious appointments right throughout from<br />
the galley to the accommodations.<br />
27
Golden Globes<br />
Active Boating<br />
28
After over seven years of producing your<br />
favourite watersports magazine, the<br />
efforts of a dedicated team and the support of<br />
our faithful readers resulted in Active Boating<br />
and Watersports being awarded the Golden<br />
Globes for Business Excellence.<br />
The awarding took place<br />
at the Grand Centennial<br />
Ballroom Manila Hotel on<br />
the evening of September<br />
23rd <strong>2017</strong> in grand style.<br />
Active Boating was<br />
represented by Rosalie<br />
Macasabwang, Publisher<br />
and her partner Mr Peter<br />
Baird, Barry Dawson, Editor<br />
and Production Manager<br />
and partner Richelle Galvan.<br />
Our thanks must go firstly<br />
to all those who work<br />
diligently behind the scenes<br />
to make the magazine the<br />
success it is today. Firstly<br />
our dedicated layout artist<br />
Mr. Mar Suba, who works endlessly to make the<br />
presentation of each article, published a work<br />
of art. And of course we could not produce<br />
the destinations so informatively without the<br />
Support of the Department of Tourism, and our<br />
special thanks go out to Grace Marzan and her<br />
team at The Regional Monitoring Staff, Makati,<br />
The Golden Globes<br />
Annual Awards for<br />
Business Excellence has<br />
awarded our magazine<br />
the Best Active Boating<br />
and Water Sports<br />
Magazine.<br />
who coordinate with the local tourism offices<br />
of each destination. To dedicated contributors<br />
to the magazine like famous author Bruce<br />
Curran who produced famous works such as<br />
“Combing the Coral Carpet”and James Webster<br />
who supplies us with our fishing stories, plus<br />
all other contributors that have supported the<br />
magazine since day one.<br />
Thank you also to Rochelle in<br />
Subic who does our accounts<br />
and Richelle in Manila who<br />
tirelessly supports us with<br />
BIR and registrations etc.<br />
Our advertisers who stay<br />
with us and of course most<br />
importantly YOU our readers<br />
who made all this work to<br />
bring you the best magazine<br />
in the Philippines. Other<br />
dedicated supporters who<br />
have made this all possible<br />
are people like Jun Avecilla<br />
of The Lighthouse Marina<br />
and Subic Sailing, Puerto<br />
Galera Yacht Club not only<br />
with the regattas held but<br />
with the valuable assistance<br />
in distribution of the magazine in Puerto Galera,<br />
and Peter Capitosto of Lake Taal Yacht Club.<br />
The inspiration this has given us has renewed<br />
our efforts to continue to make the publication<br />
even bigger and better. Once again, our thanks<br />
to everyone for your continued support.<br />
Barry Dawson, Editor.<br />
Words by<br />
BARRY<br />
DAWSON<br />
Photographs<br />
as credited<br />
29
30
The Leading Luxury Yacht Distributor in the Philippines<br />
Rayomarine Premium Sail Boats and Yachts. Explore our extensive range of boat for sale in the Philippines.<br />
Our brands consists of Flybridge & V Class Yachts, Sailing Yachts and Catamarans, Sport Cruisers, Ski Wakeboard<br />
boats, and Sport Fishing vessels. Our range of water crafts are built to the highest world class standards in quality,<br />
design, durability and engineering, with only safety, performance, efficiency and depandability in mind.<br />
Our Partners<br />
Distributed by Rayomarine Inc. The Leading Luxury Motorboat and Sailboat Distributor in the Philippines<br />
27/F World Center Bldg, 330 Sen. G. Puyat Avenue, Makati City, Philippines<br />
info@rayomarine. com I sales@rayomarine.com<br />
Phone: +632 867 8603 I www.rayomarine.com<br />
DEDICATED ENGINEERING SPECIALISTS<br />
31
Murp<br />
inPalawa<br />
Words by<br />
BRUCE<br />
CURRAN<br />
Photographs<br />
as credited<br />
32<br />
Murphy’s Law’ is the expression defined in<br />
English as “If something can go wrong<br />
it Will”.<br />
*** ** ***<br />
The time for exploration and adventure had finally<br />
arrived and we set off for the North Harbour in<br />
Manila to board the 2GO Ferry<br />
‘St Augustine of Hippo’.<br />
In true Filipino style we were<br />
told that we had to arrive<br />
at the dock 4 hours prior to<br />
scheduled departure. I think this<br />
is due to the fact that Filipinos<br />
are traditionally late for all<br />
appointments, and if they state<br />
4 hours then many will arrive at<br />
least 1 hour before the actual<br />
departure. On this occasion<br />
the ferry left, travelled for an<br />
hour, then turned back to dock<br />
to sort out a ‘minor’ engine<br />
dis-function. That lucky Asian<br />
number 8 was our saviour as<br />
we left harbour 8 hours behind<br />
schedule – so had been at the<br />
dock for a total of 12 hours. We quoted Murphy’s Law<br />
and had a laugh between us, and the boat was finally<br />
on its way. Coron first, then on to our destination to<br />
Murphy’s Law’ is the<br />
expression defined in<br />
English as<br />
“If something can go<br />
wrong it Will.”<br />
the port of Puerto Princesa in the capital of Palawan.<br />
*** ** ***<br />
On board, the main open ‘Tourist’ cabin was getting a<br />
little warm, so I decided to go to the 2nd floor and find<br />
the small restaurant that had good air-conditioning.<br />
I arrived there with a copy of my book ‘Combing the<br />
Coral Carpet’ tucked under my<br />
arm. I sat alone, but noticed 2<br />
people chatting up the other<br />
end, and felt like joining them,<br />
so walked up sat beside them<br />
and introduced myself;<br />
“Hi, I’m Bruce …may I join<br />
you?” I shook this guy’s hand,<br />
and he then said, “Hi Bruce …I<br />
haven’t seen you since 1995!<br />
It’s Andy, do you remember?<br />
Great seeing you again!”<br />
It was Andy Alford who had<br />
sailed with me on a 43 foot<br />
yacht from Subic Bay to<br />
Hong Kong in 1995. BUT the<br />
weirdest thing was the fact<br />
that the story of that crossing<br />
titled “Blue Phoenix Hits the Headlines” was in my<br />
book that I was carrying now under my arm! Our 9<br />
day crossing included a massive storm and friends in
hy’s Fun<br />
n<br />
HK thought that we had been lost at sea, and when<br />
we arrived alive but exhausted, we made the Chinese<br />
newspapers front pages! And here was Andy on his<br />
way to his now home territory of Coron where he has<br />
his own yacht these days, and was here on board<br />
talking to a dynamic Filipina who lived in Coron too,<br />
married to a foreigner. We had a great catch up chat,<br />
and are now back in regular contact. How is that for a<br />
coincidence and definitely reflects just how small the<br />
World really is.<br />
.<br />
On the return journey going to Coron, another<br />
remarkable coincidence occurred, which also showed<br />
how small the world is. David, a Vietnamese refugee<br />
who had grown up in Australia, was in the same<br />
little restaurant with his Filipina wife and their 2 year<br />
old twins. We started talking about spirituality and<br />
many interesting things. I then told him how I had<br />
done some work for Art Valdez, as the editor for their<br />
grand maritime history celebration of the Philippines<br />
with the book “The Voyage of the Balangay” by Art<br />
Valdez and Andy Maluche (photographer). Art had<br />
previously been the Filipino who had organized the<br />
first Filipinos and Filipinas to climb Mount Everest. I<br />
told David the story of how one of the Filipinas had<br />
given birth within a year before she climbed Mount<br />
Everest, and when she came back down she named<br />
her child ‘Himalaya’! David then announced that<br />
Filipina and her husband with Himalaya had lived in<br />
the house next door to them in Coron! BUT then he<br />
told me a tragic up-date, since they had had another<br />
child, a daughter, and when they moved to live on a<br />
boat, she had drowned when 3 years old. They had<br />
then wanted to get away from all the associations<br />
so moved away from Coron, and he thought they<br />
had moved to the Himalayas to live. The World was<br />
spinning again.<br />
*** ** ***<br />
Palawan is the Province out of a country total of 82<br />
that contains ¼ of all the islands in the country -<br />
1,780 out of 7000+ islands. In this magical tropical<br />
arena only an estimated 1% of the total country<br />
population lives, with 250,000 inhabiting the widely<br />
spread Puerto Princesa City itself.<br />
39 nine hours later since our arrival at the dock in<br />
Manila we disembarked in Puerto Princesa, meaning<br />
we had theoretically covered 7 miles per hour in all<br />
the time allotted!<br />
It was a great relief to step ashore at 2.30 am, and<br />
Arnold and his trike took us through the city to our<br />
hotel which we had booked for 2 days online from<br />
Manila. They had been informed by me that we were<br />
coming by ferry, since I had asked them the price of<br />
the trike in my online booking to them, and they had<br />
told me P100.<br />
The Victoria Guest House was padlocked and the<br />
front building was in total darkness, and though we<br />
Entrance to the<br />
Underground River<br />
33
a large Coca-Cola bottle full of gasoline being sold at<br />
the side of the road a few hundred metres further up,<br />
and headed out again, found a shop, bought an inner<br />
tube and headed back. The tube was fitted filled with<br />
air and we headed out again for San Vicente another<br />
41 kilometres away on the West coast.<br />
Correa’s Borrowed<br />
bike from a<br />
completely<br />
friendly stranger<br />
banged on the gate and shouted for 30 minutes there<br />
was no response whatsoever … So much for booking<br />
online! We quoted Murphy’s Law again and Arnold,<br />
who luckily had kindly waited, triked us to a place he<br />
knew, which was all light up, with a receptionist wide<br />
awake and we were shown smiling to room number<br />
5. We fell asleep before our heads hit the pillows and<br />
slept like logs!<br />
The next day Arnold helped<br />
us organise an automatic<br />
125cc Japanese scooter and<br />
we scooted around the City<br />
to the Abanico Yacht Club,<br />
where I left some copies<br />
of the Philippine Active<br />
Boating and Watersports<br />
magazine for the yachties<br />
based there, and left them a<br />
‘sponsor’s pack for my upcoming republication of the<br />
book “Combing the Coral Carpet” which is the sailing<br />
and cruising guide to the Philippine islands. We also<br />
biked to City Hall and left “Sponsor Packs” for the<br />
Mayor and the Department of Tourism (DOT).<br />
We pushed the bike<br />
for a kilometre and<br />
with amazing luck<br />
found a repair shop.<br />
We then headed out up country for a bike ride of some<br />
200 kilometres and finally after passing Roxas on the<br />
East coast of northern Palawan Island Murphy’s Law<br />
paid us another visit.<br />
We arrived in San Vicente having travelled on a<br />
covered road all the way, and went a little further<br />
north looking for a beach resort. Another wobble<br />
session found us re-punctured, again it was the<br />
back inner tube! Hurtful Murphy had done it again.<br />
A friendly local on his bike stopped to help us, and<br />
I wobbled to the next built up area to yet another<br />
vulcanizing shop. Our new found friend told us of a<br />
beach resort just a few hundred metres way from the<br />
repair shop, and we slipped in to book a room while<br />
the bike was being fixed.<br />
The weirdest thing was about to confront us. The<br />
place was called the Victoria Beach Resort, and<br />
it turned out to be the same owners as at the one<br />
we had abandoned at 3 am in Puerto Princesa. Was<br />
Murphy giving us some positive payback at this stage,<br />
for it was a remarkable coincidence.<br />
The Victoria Beach Resort was a class act, very friendly<br />
and helpful staff, a full on birthday party that evening<br />
which we were invited to join for singing, dancing and<br />
a luscious seafood dinner caught from the pristine<br />
ocean waters of the West Philippine Seas. Then, the<br />
ultimate coincidence occurred, and we met the owner<br />
Mylene, who apologized for our treatment in Puerto<br />
and welcomed us with open arms to this magic resort<br />
laced in natural materials that tuned neatly into the<br />
environmental consciousness of the place. Then<br />
and there I vowed to write a Trip-Advisor review to<br />
celebrate this great find.<br />
The next day we rode all the way back to Puerto,<br />
stayed at the same spot, but took issue with the<br />
Bike Rental shop, and asked for a replacement bike<br />
because there were some strange clanking sounds<br />
now coming from the bike as we wove our way back<br />
to the city. Sure enough they turned up with another<br />
Japanese auto scooter, and we had a relaxing and full<br />
night’s sleep.<br />
34<br />
All of a sudden the bike started wobbling violently<br />
side to side, and luckily my experience and gradual<br />
braking found us still up right and on the side of<br />
the tarred road, but with a back tyre puncture. We<br />
pushed the bike for a kilometre and with amazing<br />
luck found a repair shop. However, they did not have<br />
a replacement tube, since the burst one had opened<br />
at the seam for a 2 foot stretch, so they lent us one<br />
of their Rusi bikes and we headed back to Roxas, but<br />
only for a mile before the bike ran out of gasoline<br />
– Murphy was beginning to take over our lives and<br />
the amusement side was now long gone. We found<br />
The next day was D-Day, it was Nessy’s Birthday,<br />
and time to visit the magnificence of the St Paul’s<br />
Underground River, designated as one of the 7 New<br />
Wonders of the Natural World since 2012. We headed<br />
out on our fresh machine. Murphy joined us for<br />
another session!<br />
Some 30 kilometres out of town the now familiar<br />
wobble began again and this bike’s back tyre was<br />
totally flat. I pushed, then rode the bike gingerly<br />
and slowly for 8 kilometres (that Asian lucky number<br />
8 was haunting us again) before we found another
35
Drying Fish Puerto Princesa<br />
Newly-built banca at Roxas<br />
Chance meeting with<br />
Andy aboard 2GO<br />
after 22 years<br />
36<br />
repair shop in a village area. They said we needed a<br />
new inner tube, and since they were going into the<br />
city later, they could buy us one and fix it later in the day.<br />
We were stumped, because we had to make it to<br />
the Underground River before they closed new<br />
entrants to the caves by midafternoon.<br />
We were lost in the<br />
realm of Murphy’s Law, but<br />
were rescued by an old bloke,<br />
who appeared like an angel,<br />
and offered to lend us his old<br />
manual chained bike to go to<br />
the Underground River! Off<br />
we set and arrived, booked,<br />
went by local banca (bangka)<br />
boat with a Czech couple and<br />
a Filipino Honeymooning couple to the unbelievably<br />
awesome trip for 1.5 miles underground seeing<br />
thousands of bats, swooping swifts, stalactites and<br />
stalagmites galore in all their natural thousands of<br />
years of glory.<br />
It was a consuming and mindboggling and superb<br />
adventure magnifying our minds in tuning in<br />
We were<br />
stranded again on<br />
the side of the<br />
road in the middle<br />
of nowhere!<br />
to the environmental wonders and opening our<br />
consciousness to the need to protect and conserve<br />
our natural world for the future of us, our children<br />
and their children to eternity.<br />
We were all smiles as we biked back to collect our<br />
rented bike. But, then, when,<br />
how, why and right there<br />
Murphy poked at us again as<br />
the connecting link on the drive<br />
chain snapped and fell out. We<br />
were stranded again on the<br />
side of the road in the middle<br />
of nowhere! Alfie turned up<br />
passing us by, turning back<br />
and stopping on his very own<br />
chained bike and asked us<br />
what was the problem. Murphy was our problem –<br />
big time! Alfie went off with Nessy, bought a new pin,<br />
went home, got his bike tools, returned to the scene<br />
of our predicament, rolled out his tool bag, refitted<br />
the chain, installed the new link pin and secured our<br />
borrowed bike back to road worthiness……..we<br />
were on our way yet again.<br />
Our rented bike was fixed and we biked back towards<br />
Puerto. We laughed together as we were passing the<br />
exact spot where we had had the outgoing puncture<br />
8 kilometres back towards Princesa. Murphy was<br />
listening in to our conversation, and the bike went<br />
into a fresh wobble, hobble and back tyre puncture.<br />
Our fourth in 3 days of biking – I thought it must<br />
be a Guinness Book of Records winner by now, and<br />
laughed aloud at our new predicament. Some guy<br />
on a bike stopped and told us that 1 kilometre up<br />
the road was a vulcanizing shop. I pushed the bike<br />
there, and we told our stories as they fixed the bike<br />
by flame burning and moulding the inner tube back<br />
to a fit ride-able state. It was night time, and we set<br />
out slowly and carefully for our hour trip back to<br />
the bright lights of the city. Nessy was overawed by<br />
the thousands of stars in the crystal clear night sky,
YACHT PA RTS SALES AND SERVICE<br />
Your One-Stop<br />
Boating Service Specialists<br />
GET YOUR BOAT BACK TO HOW YOU WANT IT TO BE!<br />
➤ Inboard & Outboard Repairs & Service<br />
➤ Electronic Installation & Repairs<br />
➤ Fiberglass & Gelcoat Repairs<br />
➤ Marine Carpentry & Teak <strong>Dec</strong>k Repairs<br />
➤ Carpet & Upholstery<br />
➤ Aluminium Boat Repair & Refinishing<br />
➤ Colour Restoration<br />
➤ Transom Repairs & Replacement<br />
➤ Metal Work & Welding<br />
➤ Anti-Fouling<br />
➤ Striping and <strong>Dec</strong>als<br />
➤ Trailer Repairs or Replacement<br />
➤ Sail Repairs<br />
ALL WORK GUARANTEED<br />
Phone: 047-252-5468/0939-922-3238<br />
www.broadwatermarine.com<br />
➤ SUBIC BAY<br />
Tele/fax: (047) 252-5468 Mob: 0939-922-3238 (Smart) 0917-829-3507 (Globe)<br />
➤ MANILA Tele/fax: (02) 551-1813 Mob: 0918-963-8148 (Smart) 0917-829-3508 (Globe)<br />
➤ CEBU (032) 341-0474 Mob: 0939-902-0494 (Smart) 0917-327-7931 (Globe)<br />
➤ BORACAY Ph: (036) 288-2709 Mob: 0918-963-8155 (Smart) 0917-327-7933 (Globe)<br />
➤ SAMAL ISLAND<br />
Mob: 0918-963-8151 (Smart) 0917-659-7537 (Globe)<br />
➤ PUERTO PRINCESA (048) 433-2467 Mob: 0912-309-6305 (Smart) 0917-832-3449 (Globe) 37
Inside<br />
Undeground<br />
River<br />
and admitted to never seeing so many in her entire<br />
lifetime. It was indeed a fantastic sight, before the<br />
city lights cut out natures beauty and we made it<br />
back to the lodgings.<br />
The next morning was a ride out to Honda Bay in<br />
search of a beach for a swim in pristine waters. We<br />
only found a pier taking visitors out to various islands<br />
and turned back towards the city to find a public<br />
beach on the shores of Puerto City itself.<br />
We were on our final ride back and it was on our final<br />
day in Palawan before we were to board 2GO for our<br />
ferry ride back to Manila. Murphy raised his ugly head<br />
and we wove into a wobble session for the fifth time!<br />
The vulcanizing shop set to work, and our texting<br />
resulted in the rental shop owner turning up, giving<br />
us his bike, allowing us 5 ‘free’ hours more of rental,<br />
and off we went.<br />
all the life jackets that had been assigned to each and<br />
every bunk for safety- - the sign reading “Your safety<br />
is our priority” seemed to be laughing directly at all<br />
of us as passengers, and it felt as though we were<br />
all being held to ransom in a world without logic.<br />
However, Murphy did not visit us as the boat did not sink,<br />
and we all made it to port, life jacket naked but safely.<br />
We had been hounded by Murphy’s Law on 8<br />
occasions, we had been assisted on each occasion by<br />
remarkably friendly locals who helped us to the core<br />
of their humanity and we miraculously covered all the<br />
ground that we had intended to on our exploration and<br />
adventure in the tropical magic that is Palawan Island.<br />
The truth is, Palawan is brimming with natural wonders<br />
and a haven for divers, boaters, cavers, waterfall lovers,<br />
hikers, bikers, natural environmental travellers and has<br />
an endless host of magic places to visit.<br />
The sign reading “Your<br />
safety is our priority”<br />
seemed to be laughing<br />
directly at all of us as<br />
passengers.<br />
38<br />
Alfie saves<br />
The Pristine Beach was a gem as we bathed in the<br />
waters of the Sulu Sea, and laced ourselves with Rum<br />
and cokes.<br />
The biking back was a wobble<br />
of a different nature, and we<br />
returned the bike and Arnold<br />
picked us up for our final road<br />
trip to the ferry pier.<br />
The trip took 36 hours in all,<br />
since the boat diverted to go<br />
east of Mindoro instead of<br />
east, in order to avoid some<br />
building swells that were making some passengers<br />
anxious. Oh yes, Murphy had also played his part<br />
here, because the Depression ‘Mirang’ had caused<br />
our departure to be delayed by one day and we<br />
finally stepped on land again another day behind our<br />
original schedule.<br />
The last 3 hours of the ferry ride was into and up the<br />
30 mile length of Manila Bay.<br />
Something here had me worried that Murphy might<br />
pay us all a visit on board the 2GO ferry, since 3 hours<br />
before we docked the crew went around and collected<br />
On our journeys we met a host of local and foreign<br />
travellers. Everyone with an interesting story to<br />
tell: two were from Sheffield University in England<br />
on their Asian tour; a Scottish commercial seafarer<br />
taking his annual break; a French couple working in<br />
Malaysia; another French University student doing<br />
his qualifying agricultural trip working on a fish<br />
farm in Coron; the Czech Republic couple on their<br />
annual adventures. Life goes on enriched by these<br />
personal encounters and inspired by the warmth and<br />
friendliness of the Filipino people all wrapped up in<br />
the endless tropical magic of Palawan.<br />
My advice to everyone is, don’t focus on Murphy’s<br />
Law, “get on your bike” and visit Palawan, full of a<br />
people friendly beyond compare, and full of evidence<br />
that it is indeed “More Fun in the Philippines”, since<br />
as they say here “Ever Island An Adventure”. Get<br />
steeped in that Asian lucky Number ‘8’, and visit at<br />
least 8 sites on your trip to at least 8 of the 1,780<br />
islands making up the Last Frontier that is the Palawan<br />
Island chain – the only non-volcanic island group in<br />
this country of some 300 volcanoes, of which over<br />
25 are active. Cleopatra’s Needle at 1,593 feet is the<br />
highest point in Palawan and surrounded by thick<br />
luscious green forests running along the mountain<br />
range that covers so much of the main island that<br />
is home to a host of endemic species including the<br />
Palawan Peacock Pheasant (Palawan’s emblem), the<br />
Palawan Bearcat, the one-toed otter, the Calamian<br />
deer, the Palawan Hornbill and hundreds of other<br />
unique species.<br />
Go well, Stay well, and enjoy Life’s Journey<br />
Get real, Go to Delightful and Friendly Palawan now!<br />
*** ** ***<br />
Thanks to Murphy, our trip was 8 Days<br />
*** ** ***<br />
It is definitively More Fun in the Philippines And<br />
Murphy’s Fun in Palawan
DEEP BLUE HIGH POWER ELECTRIC PROPULSION<br />
World’s rst marine high-power series system for<br />
full electric- and hybrid electric propulsion<br />
1<br />
2<br />
Green Energy Solution<br />
Powerful and Efficient<br />
3<br />
Low Maintenance, No Fuel Cost<br />
4<br />
Lowest Levels of Noise and Vibration<br />
5<br />
Maximised Up-Time for commercial Use<br />
Distributed Exclusively By<br />
SUBIC BAY - MANILA - CEBU - BORACAY - SAMAL ISLAND - PUERTO PRINCESA<br />
PHONE: 047-252-5468 - MOBILE: 0939-922-3238<br />
www.broadwatermarine.com<br />
39
CEBU<br />
40
Lifeguard<br />
Rescue <strong>2017</strong><br />
A<br />
s the sun majestically started to rise over the<br />
shores of White Sands Beach Resort and<br />
Spa at Malibago Cebu, the excitement was already<br />
building as teams from as far as Zambales, started to<br />
arrive to contest the <strong>2017</strong> Cebu Lifeguard Challenge<br />
in a day that would expose the skills these young<br />
skilled and trainee lifesavers<br />
had learnt since becoming<br />
part of this prestige group of<br />
junior citizens.<br />
Lifesaving and Lifeguard<br />
Rescue are two of the most<br />
important elements of safety<br />
in any water sport activity,<br />
and these young athletes<br />
train tirelessly all year round<br />
to make your watersports<br />
holiday a safer one. So now<br />
it was their day to show<br />
off their skills and compete<br />
against each other in a series<br />
of events, this year organized<br />
This year there<br />
were eight teams,<br />
representing resorts<br />
that are fully aware<br />
of the importance of<br />
water safety enough to<br />
sponsor a team.<br />
by the Surf Life Saving Cebu Inc. This year there<br />
were eight teams, representing resorts that are fully<br />
aware of the importance of water safety enough to<br />
sponsor a team and support the wonderful work<br />
of these young citizens, and sincere thanks go out<br />
to all the resorts who recognise the importance<br />
of these events. The teams<br />
competing this year were from<br />
Bohol Beach Club, Cebu Park<br />
Lane Hotel, JPark Island Resort<br />
and Waterpark, Sanga Bohol,<br />
Surf Lifesaving Cebu chapters<br />
from both Minglanilla and<br />
Naga, Villa Teresita Resort and<br />
Zambales Surf Lifesaving.<br />
The event was sponsored by<br />
the White Sands Beach Resort,<br />
who open their doors and their<br />
hearts to the event supplying<br />
not only the venue but all<br />
refreshments and meals for all<br />
the competitors and officials.<br />
Words by<br />
BARRY<br />
DAWSON<br />
Photographs<br />
as credited<br />
41
The events got under way right on time at ten am<br />
and four of the seven events were completed prior<br />
to a delicious lunch served up by the hosts. The<br />
events for the day were seven in all which included<br />
rescue board relay, rescue tube relay, rescue tube<br />
and transfer relay, rescue and transfer relay, lifeguard<br />
ironman, lifeguard rescue challenge relay, and the<br />
beach flag race.<br />
After a well-earned<br />
rest, it was back into<br />
the fray for the final<br />
three events.<br />
After a delicious luncheon and<br />
a well-earned rest from the<br />
morning’s strenuous activities, it<br />
was back into the fray for the final<br />
three events. After the final event<br />
was over and the scores being<br />
tallied everyone enjoyed some<br />
light refreshments supplied by<br />
White Sands Cebu Resort and Spa.<br />
42
C: 95 M: 65 Y: 35 K: 20<br />
R: 20 G: 76 B: 110<br />
HEX: #144c6e<br />
C: 40 M: 30 Y: 30 K: 10<br />
R: 157 G: 158 B: 159<br />
HEX: #9d9e9f<br />
C: 40 M: 30 Y: 30 K: 10<br />
R: 157 G: 158 B: 159<br />
HEX: #9d9e9f<br />
C: 20 M: 15 Y: 15 K: 5<br />
R: 205 G: 204 B: 205<br />
HEX: #cdcccd<br />
C: 95 M: 65 Y: 35 K: 20<br />
R: 20 G: 76 B: 110<br />
HEX: #144c6e<br />
C: 70 M: 40 Y: 25 K: 10<br />
R: 83 G: 125 B: 154<br />
HEX: #537d9a<br />
YACHT PARTS SALES AND SERVICE<br />
New Brands. Lower Prices. Greater Value.<br />
Exclusive distributors for<br />
Phone: 047-252-5468/0939-922-3238<br />
www.broadwatermarine.com<br />
➤ SUBIC BAY<br />
Tele/fax: (047) 252-5468 Mob: 0939-922-3238 (Smart) 0917-829-3507 (Globe)<br />
➤ MANILA Tele/fax: (02) 551-1813 Mob: 0918-963-8148 (Smart) 0917-829-3508 (Globe)<br />
➤ CEBU (032) 341-0474 Mob: 0939-902-0494 (Smart) 0917-327-7931 (Globe)<br />
➤ BORACAY Ph: (036) 288-2709 Mob: 0918-963-8155 (Smart) 0917-327-7933 (Globe)<br />
➤ SAMAL ISLAND<br />
Mob: 0918-963-8151 (Smart) 0917-659-7537 (Globe)<br />
➤ PUERTO PRINCESA (048) 433-2467 Mob: 0912-309-6305 (Smart) 0917-832-3449 (Globe) 43
At the awards presentations every one of the<br />
contestants received the accolades and awards that<br />
each player so richly deserved. Zambales showed<br />
their strength by team members taking honours in<br />
4 of the events, SLSC Inc. Naga snaffled 2 and<br />
Sanga Bohol 1. Over all winners were, Zambales<br />
first, SLSCInc. Naga second and Sanga Bohol came<br />
in third.<br />
Surf Life Saving Cebu made a heartfelt thanks to all<br />
the supporters and volunteers who made the day<br />
the complete success it was. Active Boating and<br />
Watersports encourage more of our young citizens<br />
to become part of this elite group of outstanding<br />
youth. For further information in Cebu. Call landline<br />
032 267 1793 or mobile 0915 851 2486. Email<br />
inquiries to slscphil@gmail.com<br />
Active Boating and<br />
Watersports encourage<br />
more of our young<br />
citizens to become part<br />
of this elite group of<br />
outstanding youth.<br />
44
45
Words by<br />
BARRY<br />
DAWSON<br />
Photographs<br />
as credited<br />
Nearing the end of the Subic Sailing Calendar<br />
is the Bonifacio Cup, held this year on<br />
the weekend of November 25th and 26th, <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
Fully supported by Lighthouse<br />
Marina, the Bonifacio Cup<br />
is one of the many popular<br />
events held each year by Subic<br />
Sailing.<br />
Although this year, because<br />
of other commitments of the<br />
sailors, numbers were slightly<br />
down, but this did not deter<br />
everyone from having a great<br />
weekend of sailing.<br />
Competing in the regatta this<br />
year were, Selma Star with Jun<br />
Avecilla and crew, Selma with<br />
The winds and<br />
some inefficient<br />
sailing caused Alexa<br />
to retire with a<br />
broken mast.<br />
Ricky Sandoval and crew, Centennial II with Martin<br />
Tanco and Crew, Karakoa with Ray Ordoveza and<br />
crew and Alexa with Eric Jurado and crew.<br />
After the skippers meeting<br />
at the Subic Bay Yacht club,<br />
Racing got underway in earnest<br />
with good healthy winds,<br />
giving an exceptionally good<br />
start. Some excellent sailing by<br />
Jun Avecilla and his crew seen<br />
them take out the honours on<br />
the first day with Centennial II<br />
in Second Place and Karakoa<br />
in third. After the days racing,<br />
everyone gathered at the bar<br />
at the Lighthouse Marina, for<br />
some well deserving drinks,<br />
and light snacks.<br />
Before<br />
After<br />
<strong>2017</strong> Bonifacio<br />
46
The Sunday’s racing seen even better breezes for<br />
a faster start, but the winds and some inefficient<br />
sailing caused both Alexa to retire with a broken<br />
mast, and Selma Star’s crew receiving the best<br />
aerobatics award when they came to grief when<br />
trying to do too much and tipped the boat, but<br />
with a resilient and efficient crew, they were able to<br />
recover and came in second overall.<br />
Not so lucky was the fate of Alexa which had to<br />
be rescued by the race committee boat and with a<br />
broken mast was forced to retire from the race. The<br />
good thing about the incident was, that the only<br />
injuries in the mishap was some very badly bruised<br />
egos. The awards were given after a delicious<br />
meal of sausages and pasta was supplied by the<br />
Lighthouse Marina.<br />
The overall results seen the ever popular, Martin<br />
Tanco and his crew taking pride of place and coming<br />
first for the weekend. With Jun Avecilla and crew<br />
coming in second and Karakoa with Ray Ordoveza<br />
and crew placed third.<br />
Active Boating and Watersports would also like<br />
to express their gratitude to Le Charme Suites Of<br />
Subic Bay who supplied the accommodation for the<br />
magazine. The beautiful newly appointed hotel in<br />
Palm Street is near Royal Duty free Mall, so it not<br />
only offers first class accommodation, but is very<br />
close to all your shopping needs. Rest assured, as<br />
their slogan says, you will be charmed when you<br />
stay at Le Charmes Suites.<br />
Le Charme<br />
Cup Regatta<br />
47
48
DESTINATION<br />
CEBU<br />
C<br />
ebu City (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Sugbu;<br />
Filipino: Lungsod ng Cebu) is a first class<br />
highly urbanized city in the island province of<br />
Cebu in Central Visayas, Philippines. Though the<br />
seat of government and capital for the province,<br />
it is governed independent and separate from it.<br />
According to the 2015 census, it has a population<br />
of 922,611, making it the fifth most populated<br />
city in the nation. In the<br />
2016 electoral roll, it had<br />
630,003 registered voters.<br />
Cebu City is a significant<br />
centre of commerce, trade<br />
and education in the Visayas.<br />
Located on the mid-eastern<br />
side of Cebu Island, it is the<br />
centre of a metropolitan<br />
area called Metro Cebu,<br />
which includes the cities of<br />
Carcar, Danao, Lapu-Lapu,<br />
Mandaue, Naga and Talisay;<br />
and the municipalities of<br />
Compostela, Consolacion,<br />
Cordova, Liloan, Minglanilla<br />
and San Fernando.<br />
Metro Cebu had a total<br />
population of 2,849,213 as<br />
of 2015, making it the second most populous<br />
metropolitan area of the nation after Metro<br />
Manila in Luzon.<br />
The city is the first Spanish settlement, the<br />
country’s oldest city, and the first capital of<br />
the Philippines. It is considered as the Fount<br />
of Christianity in the Far East. It is the “second<br />
city” of the Philippines after Manila. Cebu is the<br />
Philippines’ main domestic shipping port, and is<br />
home to about 80% of the country’s domestic<br />
shipping companies. Cebu City is bordered to<br />
the northeast by Mandaue and the town of<br />
Magellan’s Cross was<br />
erected on the site<br />
where the ruler of<br />
Cebu, Raja Humabon<br />
was baptized and the<br />
first Catholic mass<br />
delivered.<br />
Consolacion, to the west are Toledo City, and the<br />
towns of Balamban and Asturias, to the south are<br />
Talisay City and the town of Minglanilla. Across<br />
Mactan Strait to the east is Mactan Island.<br />
Cebu City is also a significant cultural centre. The<br />
imprint of Spanish and Roman Catholic culture<br />
is evident, with Magellan’s Cross the city’s most<br />
famous landmark. The Cross,<br />
now housed in a chapel beside<br />
the Basilica, was erected<br />
by Ferdinand Magellan on<br />
the site where the ruler of<br />
Cebu, Raja Humabon, his<br />
wife Hara Amihan,(Juana),<br />
and followers were baptized<br />
and the first Catholic mass<br />
delivered. In 1835 Magellan’s<br />
Cross was encased in hollow<br />
tindalo wood, on the order<br />
of the Augustinian Bishop<br />
Santos Gómez Marañon,<br />
to prevent devotees from<br />
taking it home chip by chip.<br />
The same bishop restored<br />
the present template or<br />
kiosk, located in Magallanes<br />
Street between City Hall and<br />
the Colegio del Santo Niño.<br />
Magellan’s Cross is a symbol of Christianity in<br />
the Philippines and revered by Filipinos. A few<br />
steps away from Magellan’s Cross is the Basilica<br />
Minore del Santo Niño. This Augustinian church<br />
was elevated to the rank of Basilica in 1965<br />
during the 400th anniversary commemoration of<br />
Christianity in the Philippines, held in Cebu. The<br />
church, which was the first to be established in<br />
the colony, is built of hewn stone and features<br />
the country’s oldest relic, the figure of the Santo<br />
Niño de Cebu.<br />
Words by<br />
BARRY<br />
DAWSON<br />
Photographs<br />
as credited<br />
49<br />
www.aegoesaround.wordpress.com
outbounders.tv<br />
Cebu Central<br />
Business District<br />
Mactan-Cebu International Airport, (MCIA), is<br />
the second busiest in the Philippines in terms<br />
of passenger numbers and the volume of freight<br />
carried. Located on Mactan Island it serves as<br />
the main gateway for domestic and international<br />
flights servicing Cebu and other cities throughout<br />
the country. In the last<br />
15 years international<br />
Cebu’s weather promises<br />
to be good for business<br />
because typhoon activities<br />
are minor and rainfall<br />
is evenly distributed<br />
throughout the year.<br />
passenger traffic<br />
through Cebu has grown<br />
at an annual average of<br />
21%. Spurred by years<br />
of growth, plans are well<br />
advanced to build a new<br />
terminal and facilities<br />
at an estimated cost<br />
of $240 million, to be<br />
funded under the Philippine government publicprivate<br />
partnership program. When completed,<br />
the new terminal will handle international flights<br />
while the old terminal will host domestic flights.<br />
In addition, in the first half of 2016, MCIA and<br />
GMRCAC started the rehabilitation, renovation<br />
and expansion of terminal 1. This is the Phase 1<br />
of the Project. The new terminal building to be<br />
designed by Integrated Design Associates Ltd.<br />
(IDA) is expected to be completed by 2018.<br />
On Mactan Island, Megaworld Corporation’s<br />
Mactan Ocean town is a 25-hectare business<br />
park near the luxurious Shangri-La Mactan<br />
Resort and Spa. The project will house hightech<br />
offices, a retail centre, residential towers<br />
and villages, and leisure facilities with a beach<br />
frontage. Mactan Island is linked to mainland<br />
Cebu via Mandaue-Mactan Bridge and Marcelo<br />
Fernan Bridge.<br />
Cebu City<br />
Cebu plays a vital role in trade and commerce<br />
in Asia because the island has been gifted with<br />
a natural harbour. Its channel is deep enough<br />
to accommodate the flow of goods through<br />
international cargo sea vessels, and the Mactan<br />
Island serves as protection from winds and<br />
current.<br />
Cebu’s weather promises to be good for business<br />
because typhoon activities are minor and<br />
rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the<br />
year. Moreover, the island is not located within<br />
any earthquake belt, there is no known active<br />
volcano, and its international airport has been<br />
large enough to connect the island to several<br />
continents. Making this area a tourists paradise<br />
50<br />
The Cebu International Port is the main domestic<br />
shipping hub in the Visayas region. Notable<br />
business districts are the Cebu Business Park and<br />
the Cebu IT Park. These parks host information<br />
technology, such as software development;<br />
telecommunications; engineering research<br />
and development centres; business process<br />
outsourcing and other related industries.<br />
Cebu City, also known as the ‘Queen City of the<br />
South’, is one of the country’s most popular<br />
destinations, with tourism being a major<br />
contributor to the city’s coffers. Many visitors<br />
find the best way to explore the city is by bus,<br />
jeepney or metered taxi. The colourful multicabs<br />
ply all areas of Cebu. You can travel to all areas<br />
of the city and outlying barangays fares start at
DEDICATED ENGINEERING SPECIALISTS<br />
51
Butterfly at the<br />
Jumalon Butterfly<br />
Sanctuary<br />
3.bp.blogspot.com<br />
The lights of the<br />
city at night as seen<br />
from Mountain View<br />
CEBU<br />
52<br />
P8 depending on the distance travelled. There is<br />
also the motorized pedicars, these are usually a<br />
fixed charge, but you can negotiate a fare with<br />
the driver.<br />
There are many monuments, churches, museums<br />
and cathedrals in Cebu that reflect the rich<br />
historical legacy of the city. The Spanish initially<br />
administered the fledgling colony from Cebu,<br />
resulting in many interesting buildings and<br />
monuments dating from the time of Spanish<br />
colonial rule. The elegant, ‘H’-shaped, three<br />
storey Capitol Building, on Osmena Boulevard,<br />
with its curved façade was inaugurated in 1938,<br />
and is the hub of provincial government.<br />
Fort San Pedro National Museum, Legaspi<br />
Extension, attracts many visitors daily. This very<br />
popular museum has several well displayed and<br />
presented ancient artifacts of distinct interest.<br />
Rizal Museum and Library on Osmena Boulevard<br />
showcases many antiques, donated by Cebu’s<br />
wealthiest families, which preserve the heritage<br />
of early settlers, along with numerous artworks<br />
by popular local painters and artists from Cebu<br />
and surrounding areas.<br />
Mountain View<br />
Mountain View is about 30 minutes from the city<br />
centre, Set high atop a mountain overlooking<br />
the entire area of Cebu, this spectacular view<br />
of the entire city is well worth the trip. There is<br />
also a swimming pool and overnight cottages,<br />
restaurants and snack bars. For some memorable<br />
photos of your trip to Cebu, make sure Mountain<br />
View is on your agenda. It is a romantic, clean,<br />
safe, serene haven where you can stroll around<br />
and take in the fresh, crisp air.<br />
Mountain View Nature Park in Busay offers<br />
camping sites, gardens, retreat and seminar<br />
halls, cottages, children’s park, swimming<br />
pool, botanical garden, picnic tables, countless<br />
benches of different variations, videoke, jukebox,<br />
bunk-houses, mini-zoo, hanging bridges,<br />
viewing decks, a canteen, mini-restaurants, a<br />
Way of the Cross area, Christmas Park and much<br />
more. Mountain View Nature Park is just a few<br />
hundred meters below TOPS, a famous tourist<br />
attraction also in Busay.<br />
Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary<br />
This charming sanctuary was the brainchild<br />
and passion of Julian Jumalon, an enthusiastic<br />
lepidopterist and accomplished artist. The<br />
Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary is one of the most<br />
fascinating tourist destinations in Cebu.<br />
Established in 1974, there are now around 50<br />
species of butterfly flying freely within the<br />
reserve, many of them quite rare, which Jumalon<br />
initially attracted by growing their favourite food<br />
plants so he could watch study and paint them in<br />
their natural habitat. Man must devise strategies<br />
for survival toward a better, sustainable future<br />
while carrying on what is good and beautiful<br />
for posterity to enjoy. That is what the Butterfly<br />
Sanctuary is all about. Part of its rationale is to<br />
inculcate upon impressionable young minds,<br />
captive audiences of pupils accompanied here
y concerned teachers and parents, the wisdom<br />
of environmental protection and conservation.<br />
Every time a species becomes extinct owing to<br />
man’s greed or negligence, mankind is poorer,<br />
for the gene pool is diminished, as consequently<br />
are the resources available to it in terms of<br />
potential economic, survival or aesthetic value.<br />
This pilot Butterfly Sanctuary has provided in its<br />
modest space the natural habitat of 55 butterfly<br />
species and scores of moths and associated fauna.<br />
Itself a veritable botanical<br />
garden, it has grown within<br />
the 1,460-square-meter<br />
enclosure more than one<br />
hundred plant species,<br />
some serving as part of<br />
the life-support system of<br />
butterflies in their larval<br />
stages. Although many<br />
a visitor strays into the<br />
garden to catch a glimpse<br />
of these flying gems in their<br />
poetry in motion, through the years students<br />
with scientific inclination have been assisted in<br />
their term papers and master’s theses by having<br />
materials in the Sanctuary available for them<br />
for research on natural history. It is also a place<br />
where sometimes an overenthusiastic adult,<br />
with sharpened reflexes, can be young again by<br />
chasing something beautiful and elusive.<br />
Casa Gorordo Museum Cebu<br />
The Casa Gorordo Museum, located in Lopez<br />
Jaena Street, is one of the best preserved<br />
Spanish colonial houses in Cebu.<br />
Once home to the first Filipino<br />
Bishop of Cebu, it was<br />
Casa Gorordo was<br />
declared a historical<br />
landmark of the nation<br />
in 1991, by the National<br />
Historical Institute Board.<br />
acquired by the Spanish merchant Juan Isidro<br />
De Gorordo in 1863 and four generations of his<br />
family lived there. Built of timber and stone it<br />
typifies Spanish architecture in the Philippines<br />
and is situated in the Parian district, once home<br />
to Cebu’s most prominent families.<br />
Within the museum are religious relics, antique<br />
furniture, paintings and household items that<br />
reflect the lifestyle of the period, including<br />
ceramics and pottery. The courtyard is quite<br />
pretty and the museum well<br />
maintained and carefully<br />
refurbished to maintain<br />
the integrity of the original<br />
house. Built by Alejandro<br />
Reynes Y. Rosales in the<br />
middle of the 19th Century,<br />
the building was acquired<br />
by the Ramon Aboitiz<br />
Foundation, Inc., in 1980.<br />
After restoration,the home<br />
was turned into a museum<br />
and opened to the people. Casa Gorordo was<br />
declared an historical landmark of the nation in<br />
1991, by the National Historical Institute Board.<br />
Fort San Pedro<br />
Fort San Pedro is the oldest, and smallest,<br />
triangular bastion fort in Cebu, was named<br />
after the galleon ‘San Pedro’ on which Miguel<br />
Lopez De Legaspi, navigator and governor who<br />
founded Cebu in 1565, sailed the Pacific. Two<br />
sides of the fort face the sea and were equipped<br />
with cannon to ward off unwelcome visitors.<br />
Entrance to the fort is on the third side which is<br />
the base of the triangle and looks inland towards<br />
the city. Fort San Pedro was briefly the focus<br />
Casa Gorordo Museum<br />
53
of Spanish rule in the country<br />
until the government moved to<br />
Manila in 1571. The fort was<br />
also a stronghold for Filipino<br />
revolutionaries in the closing<br />
stages of the 19th Century.<br />
The fort is handily located in<br />
the Plaza Independencia, near<br />
the Port of Cebu, and contains<br />
artefacts from Spanish times<br />
including documents, paintings<br />
and sculpture.<br />
History of<br />
Fort San Pedro<br />
The conquistador, Miguel Lopez De Legaspi,<br />
was responsible for the construction of the fort<br />
and there is evidence that the ground breaking<br />
took place as early as<br />
1565. Originally this<br />
Fort San Pedro was<br />
rebuilt in stone during<br />
the 1730s, with walls<br />
6 meters tall and 2.4<br />
meters thick.<br />
sturdy little fort was<br />
built of mud and timber,<br />
but was rebuilt in stone<br />
during the 1730s, with<br />
walls 6 meters tall and<br />
2.4 meters thick. The<br />
towers rise to a height of<br />
7 meters. The land area<br />
of the fort is about 2025<br />
square meters. Fort San Pedro was neglected for<br />
many years and at one stage faced demolition.<br />
Wiser heads prevailed and the fort has largely<br />
been restored to something like its original<br />
state. It’s now administered by the City of Cebu<br />
and serves as an historical park. There’s a statue<br />
of Miguel Lopez De Legaspi outside the gates to<br />
the fort.<br />
Taoist Temple Cebu<br />
Taoist Temple Cebu<br />
The Cebu Taoist Temple is an imposing multitiered,<br />
variegated oasis of calm built in 1972,<br />
at an elevation of 300m above sea level, by the<br />
city’s substantial Chinese community. Located in<br />
the decidedly upmarket Beverly Hills region of<br />
Cebu, the temple is reached by three separate,<br />
circuitous pathways, with the entrance way<br />
through a pseudo Great Wall of China. The<br />
teachings of the 600 B.C.E. Chinese philosopher<br />
Lao-Tse are preserved in the temple.<br />
Twice a week Taoists can climb the 81 steps of<br />
the Temple with each step representing one of<br />
Fort San Pedro<br />
CEBU<br />
54
archiemercader.com<br />
the 81 scriptures. Worship is followed by the<br />
lighting of joss sticks and having one’s fortune<br />
told by a monk. Open to non-worshippers, the<br />
temple contains a chapel, library and a wishing<br />
well. The views from the temple over Cebu and<br />
nearby islands of Mactan and Bohol are quite<br />
stunning.<br />
Sinulog’s Annual Fluvial Procession<br />
The Sinulog-Santo Niño Festival is an annual<br />
cultural and religious festival held on the third<br />
Sunday of January in Cebu City, and is the centre<br />
of the Santo Niño Catholic celebrations in the<br />
Philippines.<br />
The festival is considered to be one of the most<br />
popular festivals in the Philippines, with every<br />
celebration of the festival routinely attracting<br />
around 1 to 2 million people from all over the<br />
Philippines every year. Aside from the religious<br />
aspect of the festival, Sinulog is also famous for<br />
its street parties, usually happening the night<br />
before and the night of the main festival.<br />
Other places like Kabankalan City, Maasin City,<br />
Balingasag Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro<br />
City, Butuan City, and Southern Leyte also have<br />
their own version of the festival in honour of<br />
Santo Niño.<br />
One of the main highlights of the festival is the<br />
grand street parade which lasts for 9 to 12 hours<br />
with participants coming from the different<br />
towns and cities of Cebu and from Luzon,<br />
Visayas and Mindanao across the Philippines.<br />
The Sinulog dance contingents are dressed in<br />
bright coloured costumes dancing gracefully to<br />
the rhythm of drums, trumpet and native gongs.<br />
Smaller versions of the festival are held in<br />
various parts of the province, also to celebrate<br />
and honour the Santo Niño. There is also a<br />
“Sinulog sa Kabataan” performed by the youths<br />
of Cebu a week before the parade. Recently,<br />
Sinulog fluvial procession<br />
55
Sinulog participants<br />
parade in colorful<br />
costumes<br />
the festival has been promoted as a tourist<br />
attraction, with a contest featuring contingents<br />
from various parts of the country. The Sinulog<br />
Contest is usually held in the Cebu City Sports<br />
Complex. The Sinulog<br />
Festival competition<br />
is divided into three<br />
categories namely the<br />
Street Dancing Category,<br />
Free Interpretation and<br />
Sinulog base categories.<br />
The free interpretation<br />
category has the most<br />
number of participating<br />
contingents coming from<br />
outside Cebu. The dance steps are fast and<br />
the storyline and theme varies from folkloric,<br />
mythical and historical lines. The Sinulog-based<br />
category centers more on the Sinulog ritual dance<br />
The Sinulog celebration<br />
lasts for nine days,<br />
culminating on the final<br />
day with the Sinulog<br />
Grand Parade.<br />
worship and the choreography is more “formal”<br />
the dance steps depicts the prayer dance which<br />
is the true identity of the Sinulog ritual dance.<br />
The Sinulog-based participants wear Filipiniana<br />
and Hispanic inspired costumes. The Grand<br />
Champion of the Free Interpretation, Street<br />
Dancing, and Sinulog base categories wins one<br />
million pesos respectively. The Sinanduloy Dance<br />
Troupe of Tangub City, Misamis Occidental is a<br />
consistent winner in the Sinulog-based category.<br />
Carcar City of Cebu also proved their mastery of<br />
the Sinulog dance and they always end within<br />
the top 5 places in the Sinulog Competition. The<br />
famous Lumad Basakanon dance contingent of<br />
Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City has won several<br />
Free Interpretation titles in Sinulog and made<br />
history when they were elevated to the Aliwan<br />
Fiesta Hall of Fame for winning the national street<br />
dancing championship during Aliwan Fiesta<br />
2006, 2007, 2008 and 2014. Sinulog Festival<br />
showcases the most number of participants and<br />
the best choreographic exhibition of any festival<br />
in the Philippines. The Sinulog celebration lasts<br />
for nine days, culminating on the final day<br />
with the Sinulog Grand Parade. The day before<br />
the parade, the religious Fluvial Procession<br />
sponsored by the Archdiocese of Cebu is held<br />
at dawn with a statue of the Santo Niño carried<br />
on a beautifully decorated boat which sails<br />
from Mandaue City to Cebu City, decked with<br />
hundreds of flowers and candles. The procession<br />
ends at the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino de<br />
Cebu where a re-enactment of the baptism to<br />
the Christian faith of Cebu is performed. In the<br />
afternoon, a more solemn procession takes place<br />
along with the major streets of Cebu City, which<br />
Sinulog performers<br />
battle for the best<br />
in street dancing<br />
CEBU<br />
56<br />
byahilo.com
57
The MB Adventure<br />
banca of the Abentura<br />
Visayan Cruises<br />
last for hours due to large crowd participation in<br />
the event.<br />
The word Sinulog comes from the Cebuano<br />
adverb sulog which roughly means “like water<br />
current movement;” it describes the forwardbackward<br />
movement of the Sinulog dance. The<br />
dance consists of two steps forward and one<br />
step backward, done to the sound of drums.<br />
The dance is categorized into Sinulog-base,<br />
Free-Interpretation, and<br />
Built in Cebu the<br />
MB-Adventure-1 is<br />
designed to allow a<br />
more comfortable and<br />
stylish experience to<br />
Island Hopping.<br />
street dancing. Candle<br />
vendors at the Basilica<br />
continue to perform the<br />
traditional version of the<br />
dance when lighting a<br />
candle for the customer,<br />
usually accompanied<br />
by songs in the native<br />
language.<br />
Sinulog is the ritual prayer-dance honouring<br />
Señor Santo Niño. An image of the Child Jesus<br />
is said to be the baptismal gift the Portuguese<br />
conquistador Ferdinand Magellan gave Hara<br />
Amihan (Humanay) of Zebu (now Cebu) in April<br />
1521. The image, believed to be miraculous, is<br />
housed at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in<br />
downtown Cebu City.<br />
According to historical accounts, the Zebu<br />
natives already danced the Sinulog in honour<br />
of their animist idols long before the arrival<br />
of Magellan who led a Spanish expedition on<br />
April 7, 1521. Magellan did not live long after<br />
he introduced Christianity. He died in a failed<br />
assault on nearby Mactan Island at the hands of<br />
a local chieftain named Lapu-Lapu.<br />
Survivors of Magellan’s expedition left behind<br />
the image to be discovered 44 years later. The<br />
expedition led by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi<br />
bombarded the native settlement when they<br />
arrived on April 28, 1565. In one of the burning<br />
huts, one of Legaspi’s men, Juan Camus,<br />
discovered the image of the Santo Niño inside<br />
a wooden box beside other idols. This time<br />
however, Legaspi discovered that the natives<br />
already dance the Sinulog honouring the Santo<br />
Niño.<br />
Today the Sinulog commemorates the Filipino<br />
people’s acceptance of Christianity, and their<br />
rejection of their former animist beliefs. The first<br />
of these conversions happened in 1521 on the<br />
island of Cebu, when Rajah Humabon and his<br />
queen Amihan (Humamay) were baptized along<br />
with their subjects, becoming Carlos and Juana<br />
of Cebu.<br />
58<br />
The Sinulog dance moves are basically two<br />
steps forward and one step backward as the<br />
dancer sways to a distinct rhythm of drums.<br />
This movement resembles the current (Sulog) of<br />
what was known as Cebu’s Pahina River.<br />
Island Hopping with a Difference<br />
Abentura Visayan Cruises is a dream trip on the<br />
most modern designed banka in the Philippines,<br />
with special care taken in safety and comfort.
Innate, Escape<br />
EXPLORE<br />
WITH THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR<br />
INFLATABLE STAND UP PADDLE BOARD<br />
DISTRIBUTED IN<br />
THE PHILIPPINES<br />
EXCLUSIVELY BY<br />
SUBIC BAY<br />
BORACAY<br />
PUERTO PRINCESA<br />
www.broadwatermarine.com<br />
MANILA CEBU<br />
SAMAL ISLAND<br />
59
The Marcelo Fernan<br />
bridge<br />
CEBU<br />
60<br />
Built in Cebu the MB-Adventure-1 is designed<br />
to allow a more comfortable and stylish<br />
experience to Island Hopping. So you can<br />
relax in comfort while exploring islands like<br />
Gilutongan, where you can experience the local<br />
underwater wonders that Cebu has to offer, this<br />
fish sanctuary provides a variety of the local<br />
fish that you can enjoy at your leisure while<br />
snorkelling.<br />
Lapu-Lapu, Mactan<br />
Mactan or Maktan is a densely populated island<br />
located a few kilometres from Cebu Island in the<br />
Philippines. The island is part of Cebu Province<br />
and it is divided into Lapu-Lapu City and the<br />
municipality of Cordova. Mactan Island lies<br />
across the Mactan Channel, opposite Cebu City<br />
in the southeast of Manila. It is modern and yet<br />
has retained its greenness and features lovely<br />
sandy beaches and good diving spots off the<br />
neighbouring islets. Mactan has a long history<br />
with many stories, the most frequently told<br />
being about the Battle of Mactan. In 1521, when<br />
Portuguese-born explorer Ferdinand Magellan<br />
arrived onshore he was killed by Mactan Chief<br />
Lapu Lapu and his men. Visitors can visit both<br />
the Magellan and Lapu-Lapu shrines while<br />
visiting the island. Mactan is also important as<br />
home of Mactan – Cebu International Airport,<br />
the country’s second busiest airport as well as<br />
the country’s largest export processing zone.<br />
Mactan is also well known for producing guitars<br />
and other musical instruments. As Mactan is a<br />
coral island, it boasts some of the best diving,<br />
snorkelling, island hopping, jet-ski, sailing<br />
and cultural activities of any island in the<br />
Philippines. The only aquarium in the Visayas is<br />
located here.<br />
Mactan Island Aquarium<br />
This charming attraction is the first in the Visayas<br />
and the only public aquarium outside of Luzon<br />
on the 7107 islands of the Philippines. The<br />
Aquarium opened to the public in September<br />
2008 and is the first and only public aquarium<br />
in the Visayas region. The exhibits, tours and<br />
educational programs focus on the aquatic<br />
life of The Philippines and the tropical Pacific<br />
Ocean. Scientists also recognized that the<br />
central Philippines region as the global centre<br />
of marine biodiversity. Meaning that there is<br />
nowhere on this planet with a greater variety of<br />
marine life than here, so where better to have<br />
an aquarium to reveal the amazing life forms<br />
beneath the water? Visitors can see an amazing<br />
variety of marine life from the tropical Pacific<br />
Ocean. Home to over 1,000 animals including<br />
exotic fish, water snakes, sea slugs and even<br />
turtles, the Aquarium is especially proud of its<br />
wide variety of life forms. When you come to the<br />
Aquarium, you can get up-close views of reef<br />
sharks, living corals, sea horses, graceful sea<br />
jellies, myriads of colourful reef fish, and much,<br />
much more.<br />
Olango Island<br />
Just twenty minutes by boat from Punta Engaño<br />
the island has so much to see and do, rich in<br />
mangrove forests, coral reefs and sea grass<br />
beds, being protected from the trade winds<br />
and monsoons makes it one of the best known<br />
flyways for migratory birds, The Olango wildlife<br />
sanctuary is home for these migratory birds<br />
taking refuge from the harsh winter conditions.<br />
Situated in San Vicente about a twenty minute<br />
tricycle ride from the pier, this sanctuary of<br />
over 920 hectares has an observation deck in<br />
the middle of the water where you can see part<br />
of the feeding and nesting grounds of over 97<br />
species of birds. On the same road to sanctuary<br />
is the San Vicente Marine Sanctuary where you<br />
can dive and take in some of the exotic marine<br />
like exclusive to the area.<br />
Diving Mactan<br />
Because of its proximity to Cebu City and the<br />
international airport, the diving infrastructure is<br />
well developed and visitors can literally be in the<br />
water within an hour or so of flying in.<br />
Whilst Mactan doesn’t offer the best diving in<br />
the Visayas there is plenty of choice and the<br />
island attracts thousands of divers every year.<br />
The east coast offers the best variety of sites<br />
along its walls and the Hilutangan Channel,
Kayak Racing in<br />
Palompon<br />
which separates it from Olango Island to the east,<br />
is extremely deep, offering good opportunities<br />
to see the larger fish that dwell there.<br />
With the creation of Marine Protected<br />
Sanctuaries, there has been a promising<br />
development of the marine life during the<br />
past 5 years and while pelagic fish are still not<br />
frequently seen around, the dive sites have<br />
amazing sea creatures, which will delight any<br />
diver including macro enthusiasts.<br />
Currents can be<br />
strong, so not every<br />
dive is suitable for<br />
beginners.<br />
Fun & Sun House Reef<br />
This site is composed of a gentle slope with<br />
some boulders and corals formations followed<br />
by a small drop off. Juvenile Puffer fish and<br />
Porcupine fish like this quiet spot. Seahorses,<br />
Blue Ribbon Eels, Pegasus and Mantis Shrimp<br />
have been spotted there as well. At night,<br />
several kinds of Crabs and shrimp come up. Ideal<br />
for divers who like to search for crawling critters.<br />
Talima Marine Sanctuary<br />
Is a fish sanctuary with a small wreck attracting<br />
countless fish and where some cool shrimp can<br />
be found. Parrot fish, Rabbit fish, Butterfly fish,<br />
Trigger fish and Sweetlips are always spotted<br />
as well as big Groupers. The wall is particularly<br />
interesting.<br />
Learn to dive in Mactan<br />
Schools of Jacks, Batfish and Chevron Barracuda<br />
will be present among superb coral gardens<br />
where you will also find some spectacular<br />
critters such as Ornate Ghost Pipe Fish, Frog<br />
fish, Nudibranches, Shrimp and much more.<br />
Currents can be strong, so not every dive is<br />
suitable for beginners. As sites are numerous,<br />
and in some cases very similar, they are grouped<br />
into three sections, one of which is Olango<br />
Island. Mactan is a favourite jumping off point<br />
for excursions further afield around the Visayas.<br />
Some of the dive sites that are popular with<br />
divers are:<br />
61
TambuliCEBU<br />
Steps to the<br />
wildlife sanctuary<br />
Nalusuan Marine Sanctuary<br />
Is one of the largest fish sanctuaries in the vicinity of<br />
Mactan Island. This dive site has an abundant coral reef<br />
formation and a gentle slope where Groupers, Blue<br />
Spotted Stingrays, Surgeon fish, Lionfish, Snapper and<br />
Parrot fish cruise around. Big Jacks are also patrolling<br />
the reef. Occasionally Turtles are seen there as well. The<br />
soft coral on the shallow area is outstanding.<br />
Nalusuan Marine<br />
Sanctuary is one of the<br />
largest fish sanctuaries in<br />
the vicinity of<br />
Mactan Island.<br />
Plane wreck at<br />
West Punta<br />
Is a dive site well<br />
recommended for macro<br />
lovers as the visibility<br />
there is limited. Frog<br />
fish, Octopus, Stone fish,<br />
Scorpion fish, Flounder,<br />
Ghost Pipefish and several<br />
kinds of Nudi branches can<br />
be spotted there. Good<br />
for macro photography and it is a different dive<br />
ambiance with an unusually greenish visibility.<br />
Hilutungan Marine Sanctuary<br />
Located just thirty minutes from Mactan,<br />
Hiluntungan Island is also a favourite spot for the<br />
snorkelling community. You will find, Barracudas,<br />
Jacks, Groupers, Bat fish, Lionfish and most of<br />
the tropical fish of Cebu’s’ Oceans can be found<br />
here. Also Eagle Rays are occasionally being<br />
spotted in the area.<br />
Kon Tiki<br />
A real favourite for night diving, as its wall is<br />
abundant with marine life. Many divers are<br />
surprised at the amount of Crabs, Shrimps,<br />
Octopus, and many other species you will<br />
encounter. During the day, the school of Sardines<br />
and Mackerel are common spectacles.<br />
Agus Wall<br />
Besides being abundant with tropical fish, the<br />
wall is host to different species of sponges, and<br />
other types of coral. Clown Fish and Anemone<br />
Fish are frequently spotted here. You never<br />
know what may show up. It has been known to<br />
have manta rays and even whale shark cruising<br />
along the wall from time to time.<br />
Tambuli<br />
Tambuli Site is the final resting place of a small<br />
plane wreck in about 20 meters of water that<br />
is always enjoyed by the divers that frequent<br />
this site. The current makes you drift along a<br />
slope where you will see schools of Damsel fish,<br />
Sergeant Major fish, Catfish and Butterfly fish<br />
among others.<br />
62
FOR ONLY<br />
*P750 PER YEAR<br />
63
Whale Shark at Oslob<br />
CEBU<br />
64<br />
With so much to choose from divers enjoy the<br />
variety of Mactan and Cebu and with places<br />
like Fun & Sun dive travel and the Kon Tiki Dive<br />
Centre to help and guide you Mactan in Cebu is<br />
a great place to dive.<br />
Oslob, home of the<br />
whale shark<br />
The south east of Cebu, in Tanawan, Oslob, is<br />
now famous for watching whale sharks, and a<br />
pod of 22 whale sharks was seen there last year.<br />
If you ever wanted to see whale sharks up close<br />
then Tanawan is the place to do it. Not so long<br />
ago this sleepy barangay about 130km south of<br />
Cebu City was unheard of, the locals deriving<br />
there subsistence lifestyle from fishing. The<br />
whale sharks used to be physically discouraged<br />
as they caused damage to the fishing nets.<br />
One day a fisherman noticed that if he put bait<br />
out behind the boat the whale sharks would<br />
follow. The boatmen are divided into three<br />
teams, all do the same job and the ticket price is<br />
fixed. You can hire snorkels, underwater cameras<br />
and diving equipment at additional costs above<br />
the basic price, which while relatively expensive<br />
still, represents good value compared to similar<br />
attractions in the Philippines.<br />
Get there early as feeding stops at 12 pm, during<br />
weekdays 8-9 am would be fine, but on high days<br />
and holidays 6-7 am start means you will spend<br />
less time queuing and the outside temperature<br />
is cooler early in the morning. Transportation<br />
couldn’t be easier as the normal yellow and blue<br />
buses will drop you outside, where you will be<br />
greeted by many Filipinos trying to secure your<br />
business, As I said the ticket price is controlled,<br />
you shouldn’t need to pay an entrance fee most<br />
won’t charge, but beware. Once you get there<br />
ticket in hand, you wait your turn. The boatmen<br />
are used to seeing scantily dressed females now,<br />
most Filipinas being a little more conservative<br />
with their beach attire. seeing Whale Sharks is<br />
a virtual guarantee although most are juveniles,<br />
they are still an impressive sight up close, and no<br />
doubt you will be tempted into buying a T shirt<br />
saying save the Whale Sharks.<br />
Whale sharks are visible during good weather<br />
and clear water before the temperature begins<br />
to rise: but when the water is rough and muddy,<br />
the sharks don’t come in to feed. Swimming with<br />
whale sharks is an awesome experience and the<br />
local government has sensibly introduced strict<br />
rules to protect the sharks and the environment.<br />
Swimmers cannot approach within 5 meters of<br />
these magnificent creatures, the use of a flash<br />
camera is prohibited, and feeding the whale<br />
sharks is not permitted. You can snorkel in the<br />
water with the sharks or observe them from<br />
the boat. The boats are all wooden bancas<br />
with oars only, no motorized boats are allowed<br />
anywhere near the area to protect the sharks<br />
from dangerous propeller blades. But no matter<br />
which way you choose to see these magnificent<br />
creatures of the ocean please observe the rules<br />
the rules set in place by the local authorities or<br />
you can face a very severe penalty and justly so.<br />
Besides the whale shark watching, an experience<br />
everyone should be part of, there are many<br />
other attractions in Oslob well worth the visit.<br />
The Heritage Park located at the back of<br />
the municipal offices facing the shoreline is<br />
picturesque and extremely well maintained,<br />
take a leisurely stroll along the shore or visit the<br />
newly established museum. From Heritage Park<br />
you can also see the Cuartel, a unique structure<br />
built from the coral stones of the fallen church<br />
bell tower through the efforts of El Gran Maestro<br />
Don Marcos Sabandal as barracks for the Spanish<br />
armies but was halted during the American arrival<br />
in 1899.<br />
The oldest street in Oslob, Calle Aragones was<br />
built in 1879 and faces the church which was<br />
destroyed by fire, luckily there was no structural<br />
damage and this beautiful old church built<br />
from coral stone in 1840 has had the interior<br />
completely rebuilt.<br />
Oslob also hosts the watersports triathlon in the<br />
beginning of October each year. It is a weekend<br />
of fun, activity and friendly competition that<br />
attracts many visitors and competitors to this<br />
quaint and peaceful town. Your visit to Oslob<br />
would not be complete without a visit to the<br />
spectacular Tumalog Falls. The road down to
the actual falls is sealed but very steep so it<br />
is recommended to get a motorbike from the<br />
entrance to the falls, it is only P50 and the<br />
drivers are very experienced.<br />
These magnificent falls cascade down the<br />
mountainside from approx. 300 meters into a<br />
pool below, there are many observation points<br />
at the falls all designed to give you a perfect<br />
One day a fisherman<br />
noticed that if he put<br />
bait out behind the<br />
boat the whale sharks<br />
would follow.<br />
Moalboal, a divers paradise<br />
The municipality of Moalboal lies on the<br />
southwest coast of Cebu island. Moalboal has<br />
been ‘discovered’ and is now a famed tourist<br />
destination for both locals and foreign nationals.<br />
It has laudable coastlines, flanked by almost<br />
deserted beaches. It’s a magnificent underwater<br />
paradise and one of the best dive capitals in the<br />
world.<br />
Moalboal is approximately 89 km by road from<br />
Cebu City, and can be reached by bus or car in<br />
under three hours. Everyone can enjoy the warm,<br />
pristine waters, and the fine, glistening sand<br />
to be found here. It is popularly known as the<br />
‘Diving Paradise of Cebu’ because of its beaches,<br />
dramatic coral and different underwater marine<br />
view. While at the falls remember to get some<br />
very tasty native passion fruit for a special taste<br />
delight.<br />
Another taste delight of Oslob is the local BBQ in<br />
the main street of an evening, typically Filipino,<br />
very delicious and very low cost, just select what<br />
you prefer and have it BBQ’d. You can eat it at<br />
the tables provided along with some rice or take<br />
it back to your hotel.<br />
Sometimes good food is hard to come by in the<br />
provinces, but if you fancy a T bone steak or fish<br />
and chips, Buddy’s bar and restaurant offer a<br />
large choice of cuisine and cheap accommodation<br />
, located 2 km north of Oslob town.<br />
On the second Saturday of <strong>Dec</strong>ember the town of<br />
Oslob holds the “Toslob Festival. The word Toslob<br />
means soak in the local dialect and got its name<br />
from the original naming of Oslob. A long time<br />
ago there was a popular spring called Bolocboloc<br />
named because of its existing spring located<br />
beneath the shoreline and is now called Nigad.<br />
The word Oslob comes from a misunderstanding<br />
between a native couple and two civil guards<br />
in 1785. While the couple were sitting resting<br />
under a tree eating boiled bananas soaking them<br />
in vinegar and salt, the two guards asked them<br />
the name of the place, the couple were surprised<br />
and not being able to comprehend what the<br />
guards were saying , thought they were asking<br />
them what they were doing to which they replied<br />
“Toslob” which meant soaking.<br />
Ceres Liner runs frequent bus services to Oslob<br />
from Cebu the trip takes about three hours<br />
depending on traffic conditions. The buses are<br />
air-conditioned and the fare is very low cost.<br />
65
life, especially around Pescador Island. This<br />
region is the most fascinating of the underwater<br />
world, interlaced with awesome and exotic coral<br />
and a variety of sea flora and fauna, which is<br />
why it’s considered the jewel of Moalboal.<br />
Moalboal celebrates its annual town fiesta on<br />
May 16 in honor of Patron Saint, San Juan<br />
Nepomuceno, and on May 15 visitors can<br />
watch the “KAGASANGAN FESTIVAL”. This is a<br />
presentation of street dancing and ritual showdown<br />
participated in by<br />
A paradise for scuba<br />
divers, Moalboal has<br />
numerous beach resorts<br />
offering luxurious<br />
amenities.<br />
the different barangays.<br />
A paradise for scuba<br />
divers, Moalboal has<br />
numerous beach resorts<br />
offering luxurious<br />
amenities, European,<br />
American, Asian, and<br />
Filipino cuisine, a full<br />
range of aqua sports<br />
and a splendid night life by the beach. The<br />
diving schools and dive centers like Kasai Village<br />
Resort and Dive centre can teach the skills and<br />
techniques of scuba diving. Enjoy the diving<br />
experience in wonderful Moalboal.<br />
Panagsama Beach<br />
Is a paradise for scuba divers! It has numerous<br />
beach resorts that offer luxurious amenities,<br />
aqua sports and cater for European, Asian,<br />
English, American and Filipino Cuisine. Sit back<br />
relax and enjoy the majestic night life on the<br />
beach. New to diving? There are many diving<br />
schools and dive centers that can teach you<br />
the skills and techniques needed to enjoy the<br />
wonderful world of scuba diving. Formerly know<br />
as Basdiot beach it is situated in the barangay<br />
of Saavedra it has a lot of white sand to offer<br />
and is the ideal place to sun, swim, snorkel and<br />
even jet ski, let the pristine waters and whites<br />
sands tempt you. The Marine Sanctuaries at<br />
Basdiot, Tuble and Saavedra, are home to<br />
different corals and shoals of various fish. These<br />
marine sanctuaries bring forth moments of<br />
amusement and amazement. Exploring the coral<br />
with its surrounding flora and fauna will expose<br />
a paradise of the marine world.<br />
Pescador Island<br />
This uninhabited island has an automated<br />
lighthouse with access steps on the north and<br />
east sides, while the area around the island is a<br />
marine reserve, protected by the local Moalboal<br />
Municipality.<br />
However it is a marine reserve in name only, as<br />
fishermen extensively spear fish across the entire<br />
reef. Local fishermen are destroying the coral<br />
by using rocks as anchors and entangling the<br />
delicate growth with their nylon fishing lines.<br />
Experienced divers have noticed the lack of<br />
large fish around Pescador compared with other<br />
similar areas, such as the nearby Apo Island.<br />
Dive operators claim the economic benefit to<br />
Moalboal derived from dive tourism is far greater<br />
than the traditional fishermen’s contribution<br />
Tourists enjoy<br />
delicious native<br />
cuisine<br />
CEBU<br />
66
AVAILABLE FROM EXCLUSIVE PHILIPPINE DISTRIBUTOR<br />
SUBIC BAY CEBU<br />
SAMAL ISLAND<br />
MANILA BORACAY PUERTO PRINCESA<br />
www.broadwatermarine.com<br />
67
CEBU<br />
and the current abuse of the area is resulting in a<br />
decline of the island’s attraction to scuba divers.<br />
From a diver’s perspective it is an ideal dive site<br />
with easy access from the shore, (a 10 minute, 3<br />
km boat ride from Panagsama Beach), and with<br />
great snorkeling and diving spots ranging from<br />
shallow to deep dives. Accessible year round<br />
in all but extreme storm conditions, Pescador<br />
Island provides consistently<br />
interesting diving.<br />
Bantayan Island<br />
Bantayan Island is located in<br />
the Visayan Sea, to the west<br />
of the northern end of Cebu<br />
Island, across the Tañon<br />
Strait, which separates Cebu<br />
from Negros. It is known as<br />
the egg basket of the Philippines producing over<br />
one million eggs per day.<br />
The warmth and friendliness of the local people is<br />
truly something special visitors to Bantayan will<br />
remember for years to come. And the destruction<br />
suffered here in the 2013 earthquake did not<br />
deter these people from making it still one of<br />
the best island destinations in Cebu.<br />
Bantayan Island is<br />
known as the egg basket<br />
of the Philippines<br />
producing over one<br />
million eggs per day.<br />
A vacation in Cebu is hardly complete without<br />
going to Bantayan island, known for its sparkling<br />
beaches and crystal clear waters. Having the same<br />
beach front as the world-renowned Boracay,<br />
Bantayan is one of the most visited islands in the<br />
region. A must visit is the Sugar Beach Resort,<br />
with its beautiful white sands like refined sugar,<br />
hence the name and the bungalows set amongst<br />
tropical palms is one of the most beautiful and<br />
cleanest beaches I have seen<br />
in for quite a while. During<br />
holy week the beach comes<br />
alive with many activities<br />
including many concerts<br />
and live shows. There are<br />
many resorts in Bantayan<br />
to choose from and most of<br />
them are right on the beach.<br />
Resort rates range from<br />
US$12 to US$142 daily. With<br />
a vast shoreline it won’t take long to find has<br />
just been completely refurbished, or the unique<br />
Anika resort where all the cabins are made from<br />
shipping containers. Next door to Anika is the<br />
Beach Placid Resort the caption of this resort is<br />
“where serenity starts” and one can truly believe<br />
this when staying at this beautiful resort with its<br />
rustic cabins, native style restaurant and tropical<br />
gardens where you can relax and swim at the<br />
68
eautiful white sand beach. The most notable<br />
resort on the island is the Ogtong Cave Resort set<br />
in lush tropical gardens this well-appointed resort<br />
has it all including the only cave on the Island<br />
where you can swim in crystal clear fresh water.<br />
Another activity well worth the effort is the<br />
bird watching at Balidbid, where you can<br />
see thousands of egret or as known in the<br />
Philippines Tuwabong. In the early morning and<br />
just before sunset thousands of these graceful<br />
birds turn the trees white. The island hopping<br />
from Bantayan is a great way to spend a day<br />
with a difference. Seeing places like the Hilanta<br />
Gaan Island and the Hilanta Gaan Dyut Dyut<br />
meaning smaller island, this was later named by<br />
a tourist as the Virgin Island, because it was not<br />
yet developed at the time.<br />
However, before jumping on the next plane<br />
or ferry to Bantayan, here are some important<br />
reminders. To save time and money, plan the trip<br />
well in advance of departure. Choose the best<br />
dates to travel and pick the most convenient yet<br />
affordable means for the voyage.<br />
Upon arrival in Cebu, take a bus to San Remigio<br />
from the North Bus Terminal. After a more or<br />
less 2½ hour land journey by bus, SUV, van or<br />
taxi, a further hour on one of the big RORO<br />
ferries from the Hagnaya wharf to the port of<br />
Santa Fe, Bantayan is required.<br />
Chartering a plane is the most convenient way<br />
to get to Bantayan Island. The flight takes about<br />
25 minutes and costs, at the time of writing,<br />
PhP2300 per person from Mactan-Cebu airport.<br />
One of the airlines operating a charter service<br />
is Air Island Tours. Before setting off on a trip<br />
to Bantayan Island, some preparations will make<br />
the vacation more comfortable. Plan ahead to<br />
reduce stress and make the most of this tropical<br />
getaway. The rule of thumb is: stick with the<br />
essentials.<br />
Beach clothes. This includes swimming gear and<br />
several changes of lightweight clothing. The<br />
Philippines is a tropical country so leave those<br />
long woolen pants and thick shirts at home; just<br />
pack lots of shorts, a few tops and one pair of<br />
long pants or slacks. Jeans can be worn almost<br />
anywhere in the Philippines. Sun protection.<br />
The tropical sun is quite fierce for the unwary<br />
so pack a good pair of sunglasses and a widebrimmed<br />
summer hat. Most importantly<br />
remember to bring a sunscreen with high SPF<br />
to avoid sunburn, skin moisturizer for hydration,<br />
and lip balm to avoid chapped lips. And the best<br />
way to keep hydrated? Drink lots of water.<br />
Camera<br />
Keep those memories alive through photographs<br />
of this beautiful island. Be sure to bring extra<br />
batteries and an adapter.<br />
Cash<br />
Most establishments and hotels on Bantayan<br />
Island don’t accept credit cards. Have some cash<br />
on hand to avoid the tedium of finding an ATM<br />
machine, which will quite possibly be off-line<br />
when it’s needed most.<br />
Malapascua<br />
Friendly faces everywhere<br />
The waters surrounding Cebu have long been a<br />
diver’s paradise, boasting some of the best dive<br />
sites in the world, and Malapascua Island off<br />
the northern tip of Cebu is no exception. This<br />
beautiful, pristine island, with its shimmering,<br />
sandy beaches approximately thirty minutes<br />
from the port of Maya is one of the best. The<br />
residents of this little island paradise will make<br />
you feel like royalty, welcoming you with true<br />
Filipino hospitality that comes from the heart.<br />
The resorts and dive centers of the island have<br />
staff that will make you wish your diving vacation<br />
would never end. With the most beautiful<br />
beaches and sparkling waters being ideal for<br />
both swimming and diving. The waters are crystal<br />
clear and visibility is every diver’s dream.<br />
The resorts and dive centers can cater for all your<br />
needs and some of the popular places to stay are<br />
the Malapascua Legend and Watersports Resort;<br />
the rooms are five star, there’s a swimming pool<br />
and a superb restaurant. Another resort of note<br />
is the Hippocampus. There are many dive centers<br />
on the island, such as Sea Explorers, Seaquest<br />
and Dive Link. The owner of Dive Link and his<br />
69
karissajavier.files.wordpress.com<br />
CEBU<br />
Bantayan Island<br />
70<br />
staff are well versed in the top dive sites and are<br />
also innovators of Project Sharklink.<br />
Project Sharklink is a collaborative undertaking<br />
by Singapore and Philippine Education,<br />
Research, and Diving institutions to investigate<br />
and monitor the state of the Monad Shoal reef<br />
and propose measures to limit the degradation<br />
caused by increasing numbers of scuba-divers<br />
to the region, both in the water and on the<br />
fragile ecology of Malapascua Island. This<br />
includes “mapping and comparing topography<br />
and biodiversity of two underwater ‘cleaning’<br />
stations that support cleaner-fish services.”<br />
Cleaner-fish, known as elasmobranch, include<br />
the grey reef and thresher sharks as well as manta<br />
and devil rays which are frequent visitors to<br />
Monad Shoal. Project Sharklink will also identify<br />
“sustainable management of natural resources,<br />
such as fresh water,” on Malapascua island as<br />
well as monitor the quality of the ground-water<br />
which is in danger of long term contamination<br />
by pit latrines and open refuse sites. The teams<br />
will also establish workshops to conduct training<br />
on an alternative livelihood programme for local<br />
volunteers.<br />
When island hopping, some of the better dive<br />
sites are at Chocolate Island, for coral and a<br />
variety of fish. While Isla De Gato is prolific for<br />
sea snakes, sea horses and juvenile sharks.<br />
Situated atop Guimbitayan is the lighthouse that<br />
guides all the vessels plying the shipping lanes<br />
between Cebu and Manila.<br />
One of the more interesting dive sites is Monad<br />
Shoal, a sea mount rising 250m from the floor<br />
bed, 8km east of Malapascua. It is increasingly<br />
popular with divers and snorkelers attracted<br />
by the thresher sharks and manta rays which<br />
regularly bask in the crystal waters of the reef.<br />
Get in touch with Dive Link for details on trips<br />
to Monad Shoal.<br />
One can only say about Malapascua is that it’s<br />
the one destination in the Philippines that every<br />
diver should make time to visit and dive. Its<br />
delightful beaches, water as transparent as fine<br />
glass and intriguing marine life combine to make<br />
this diver’s paradise the holiday of a lifetime.<br />
Handy Hints<br />
There are no cars on the Island so transport<br />
around the island is by motor bike, or if nearby<br />
walking, which is more of a pleasure than a task<br />
as you stroll along the beautiful beaches to your
destination. It’s no hardship to walk around the<br />
island in around three hours. It is important<br />
to note that the lighter you travel the better,<br />
only bringing with you essential items and<br />
light summer clothing. The island has no banks<br />
or ATM’s and credit cards are not generally<br />
accepted, so have enough cash to cater for<br />
your needs: it is not a disadvantage if you<br />
know in advance and come<br />
well prepared. Whatever<br />
your decision for your next<br />
diving holiday choosing<br />
Malapascua is a decision<br />
you would never regret!<br />
How to Get There<br />
From Manila there are<br />
numerous flights daily from<br />
all the major airlines, with most of the airlines<br />
offering different promotional package deals,<br />
so check out the internet for your best options.<br />
From Cebu to places like Oslob and Moalboal,<br />
Ceres Bus lines runs a regular scheduled service<br />
with departures every 30 minutes. There are also<br />
private air charter services available to get you<br />
where you wish to go at reasonable rates. Air<br />
Juan have also commenced regular flights to<br />
various Cebu destinations.<br />
Where to Stay<br />
One of the more<br />
interesting dive sites is<br />
Monad Shoal, a sea mount<br />
rising 250m from the<br />
floor bed, 8 km east of<br />
Malapascua.<br />
Where ever your next stop over on this magical<br />
island there is no end to the number of choices<br />
you have to stay at from the<br />
budget conscious to five<br />
star. Cebu has is all.<br />
Where to Eat<br />
This all depends on your<br />
taste buds and fancies, but<br />
no matter whether you are<br />
in Cebu itself or one of the<br />
many provinces there is<br />
always a selection of places to choose from to<br />
please even the most discerning palette.<br />
So looking for a holiday that has a bit of<br />
everything, then look no further than Cebu for<br />
that memorable holiday of a lifetime.<br />
Malapascua Island<br />
simonjpierce.com<br />
PERFECTLY SUITED FOR DIVING AND<br />
OTHER WATER SPORT ACTIVITIES<br />
NELSON’S SCUBA<br />
DIVING SCHOOL<br />
Tuble, Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines 6032<br />
Reservation: +63 (0)32 516 2617<br />
Front Office: +63 (0)32 406 7865<br />
info@kasaivillage.com | booking@kasaivillage.com<br />
Panagsama Beach Moalboal Phone: 0322-474-3023<br />
Mobile: 0917 276 7969-<br />
Email oceansafariphilippines@hotmail.com<br />
71
Paper Charts<br />
As a Distributor of<br />
Global Navigation Solutions<br />
for British Admiralty<br />
products, we have extensive<br />
stocks of world wide<br />
British Admiralty<br />
charts in our Cebu<br />
and Singapore<br />
warehouses; we also<br />
provide charts<br />
updating services<br />
Nautical Publications<br />
All titles from Admiralty Publications are readily available<br />
and includes, among others:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Admiralty Sailing Directions (Pilots)<br />
Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signals<br />
Admiralty Tidal Publications<br />
Admiralty List of Radio Signals<br />
Nautical & Navigational Instruments<br />
Navicharts Philippines Inc.<br />
are stockist of a complete<br />
range of fine nautical and<br />
navigational Instruments<br />
Other References<br />
Complementing our extensive range of publications are the following<br />
renowned global publishers:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
IMO Publications<br />
Brown, Son and Fergusons<br />
The Stationary Office<br />
The Nautical Institute<br />
Taylor and Francis<br />
Celestiare<br />
Witherby<br />
Elsevier<br />
Safety Signs Categories<br />
Navicharts Philippines Inc. is<br />
the only distributor in the<br />
Philippines for Maritime<br />
Progress “fit-for-purpose”<br />
and IMO/SOLAS approved<br />
products, includes:<br />
Flags<br />
We also keep stock of<br />
quality courtesy flags and<br />
merchant flags of<br />
various sizes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
SOLAS Symbols<br />
Emergency Symbols<br />
Direction Signs<br />
IMO approved<br />
Fire Control Symbols<br />
Fire Equipment Signs<br />
Mandatory Signs<br />
72<br />
Bldg. 1, Cebu Yacht Club, Pusok, Lapu-lapu City (6015), Cebu Philippines Tel: +63 32 3401193 Fax: +63 32 3401194 Mobile: +639173200010<br />
Email: navchart@mozcom.com Website: www.navicharts.org
NORWEGIAN PACIFIC OFFSHORE INC.<br />
Provider of a complete range of navigation solutions & services<br />
www.navico.com/commercial<br />
Builds on its core technologies including User-Interface, Radar, Sonar, Instruments, EPIRBs, SARTs<br />
Autopilots, GPS, Gyro Compasses, AIS, ECDIS and Integration.<br />
www.lowrance.com<br />
Leading brand in fishing electronics since 1957<br />
www.bandg.com<br />
Sailing navigation and instrument specialist<br />
www.victronenergy.com<br />
The pioneer in reverse osmosis desalination,<br />
manufacturer of compact,<br />
economic marine<br />
watermakers for use in<br />
the boating industry.<br />
World leader in quality,<br />
independent electronic power<br />
www.hrosystems.com<br />
www.sanimarin.com<br />
World’s leading manufacturer<br />
of electric macerator toilets at<br />
the service of the sea<br />
www.c-map.com<br />
Leading supplier of digital navigation<br />
products into the maritime market<br />
www.tranberg.com<br />
Leading manufacturer and<br />
supplier of products, systems and<br />
services for explosion protection<br />
as well as marine applications<br />
Lot-14 Magellan’s Landing Compound Argonaut Highway, Subic Bay Freeport Zone Metro Subic 2222 Philippines<br />
Cebu Office Address: Bldg. 1 Cebu Yacht Club, Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City, 6015 Philippines Tel/fax: +63 32 3407303 Mobile: +63 917 320 0016/ +63 917 320 0026<br />
Email: normarco@norwegianpacificoffshore.com Website: www.norwegianpacificoffshore.com<br />
73
Chall<br />
2018 Zambales<br />
74
s Lifeguard<br />
llenge<br />
Two Thousand Eighteen will see the running<br />
of the 7th Zambales Lifeguard Challenge,<br />
again sponsored by Standard Insurance<br />
Co., Inc., this is fast becoming the premier<br />
lifesaving sports event in the Philippines, due<br />
to Zambales Lifesaving Inc. continuous drive for<br />
precision training, safer beaches and drowning<br />
awareness and prevention.<br />
The growth of this event has<br />
been continuous, with the<br />
first event in 2012 being pool<br />
events and only four teams,<br />
every year it gets bigger<br />
and better; this is brought<br />
about by the continued<br />
assistance of the Standard<br />
Insurance Co., Inc. who<br />
understand the value to the<br />
community that drowning<br />
awareness brings. Also the<br />
support of the Provincial<br />
Government of Zambales<br />
through the support of<br />
Hon. Governor Atty. Amor<br />
Deloso, Congresswoman<br />
Cheryl Deloso-Montalla and<br />
a number of the LGU’s, especially Iba and San<br />
Narciso.<br />
Since the inception of the program, Zambales<br />
Lifesavings president Mr. Roger Bound has<br />
worked hard to bring the swimming community<br />
and lifesaving together, this has resulted in<br />
Zambales Lifesavings<br />
president Mr. Roger<br />
Bound has worked<br />
hard to bring the<br />
swimming community<br />
and lifesaving<br />
together.<br />
a number of competitive swimmers joining<br />
lifesaving and a number of lifesavers also<br />
joining the swimming ranks, which has greatly<br />
benefited both groups and the Province<br />
through sharing ideas and recourses.<br />
Also the recent support of Surf Life Saving Far<br />
North Coast that is assisting<br />
with supply of equipment<br />
that is being issued to<br />
resorts that support the<br />
program, so as to improve<br />
safety on the beaches of<br />
Zambales.<br />
The 2018 event will be held<br />
on the third weekend of<br />
March, which will become<br />
the permanent date of the<br />
event, so in 2018 will be<br />
March 17 and 18.<br />
Even this early there is<br />
interest from a number<br />
of out of province teams,<br />
including Cebu and Bohol,<br />
Zambales Lifesaving are also<br />
hoping that the Naga team can find a sponsor,<br />
as they are fast developing as an extremely<br />
strong team and the more experience they can<br />
get, the stronger they will become.<br />
To assist teams in keeping cost down, teams<br />
will consist of only two persons, these can be<br />
Words by<br />
BARRY<br />
DAWSON<br />
Photographs<br />
as credited<br />
75
males and females and there will be special<br />
awards for all female teams.<br />
Current inquiries from parents and kids are<br />
increasing, which is a great sign of the junior<br />
ranks increasing, starting from only 4 in 2012,<br />
it is expected to see a minimum of 40 kids<br />
compete in this year’s<br />
event, due to the growth<br />
of interest there will this<br />
year be introduced new age<br />
classes and separate events<br />
for boys and girls, age<br />
categories will be category<br />
1, for 8, 9 and 10 year olds<br />
and category 2 for 11, 12<br />
and 13 year olds, these will<br />
all be individual events,<br />
the 14 and 15 year olds will compete in Team<br />
events and the teams will be mix of 1 female<br />
and 1 male, this it to encourage more females<br />
into the sport and to make the competition as<br />
close as possible.<br />
The program expanded to<br />
assist some 400 children<br />
in basic water safety, with<br />
the major goal to be able<br />
to teach them to “float”.<br />
This year will also see the introduction of a<br />
junior novice category for kids below 8 as there<br />
are inquiries for this, which may well lead to<br />
Zambales following the Australian format of<br />
the juniors being from 5 to 16 rather than the<br />
current 8 to 16.<br />
Events will be run over 2<br />
days and at this point it is<br />
anticipated that there will<br />
be 7 events for seniors and<br />
5 events for the juniors, for<br />
safety, events will be run in<br />
heats, all of which will be<br />
timed and results based on<br />
the fastest times, so it is<br />
envisioned that in all a total<br />
of some 45 plus heats over<br />
the 2 days, so there will be plenty of action for<br />
spectators.<br />
Overall winners will be decided on a points<br />
system based on their overall placing in each<br />
76
event, points are 1st. 20 pts.) (2nd. 17 pts.)<br />
(3rd. 15 pts.) (4th. 12 pts) (5th. 10 pts) (6th.<br />
and below 5 pts.) and Did Not Finish (DNF) - 0<br />
pts Disqualification (DQ) – 0 pts.).<br />
The majority of the senior events will be<br />
actual rescue scenarios, using victims who<br />
shall be volunteers from the local lifesaving<br />
communities and resorts.<br />
Due to additional assistance from the sponsor,<br />
Standard Insurance, will be greatly reduced<br />
from what was required in previous years<br />
for individual entries, this is in line with the<br />
policy to make the event more affordable for<br />
competitors and will include a competition<br />
shirt, lunch and medals for first three in all<br />
events and trophies for the outright 1st., 2nd.<br />
and 3rd. in overall points.<br />
As usual the host resort will be offering<br />
free entrance to all spectators; there were a<br />
number of possible venues, but after careful<br />
consideration, the venue chosen for the<br />
7th Standard Insurance Zambales Lifeguard<br />
Challenge is Palmera Garden Beach Resort<br />
and Hotel in Bangantalinga Iba, who have<br />
also hosted some of the previous Lifeguard<br />
Challenges.<br />
The events in the 2018 events to be held will be:<br />
Juniors events:<br />
Run – swim – run. / Beach sprint. / Beach flags. /<br />
Rescue Board run – paddle – run. (These are<br />
junior styro rescue boards) / Rescue tube run<br />
– swim – run. (towing a rescue tube, but no<br />
victim) / Iron-kid. Run – swim – paddle – run.<br />
(Top 6 competitors only)<br />
Senior events and Junior teams:<br />
Beach flags. / Run – swim – run medley relay. /<br />
Rescue board and transfer relay. / Lifeguard<br />
Challenge relay. / Rescue tube and transfer<br />
relay. / Rescue and resuscitation assessment<br />
relay. / Iron-man Challenge. / Board race. If<br />
additional time available this will be a relay.<br />
For further information and registration of the<br />
2018 challenge contact Mr. Roger Bound on<br />
0918-922-2863 or Marichu on 0918-938-0266<br />
or email: slszambales@gmail.com.<br />
77
Sailing Tips<br />
Equi<br />
You’ve always been interested to sail, but you know little about boat parts, the confusing technobabble,<br />
and what little you know is making your head spin in four different directions! Worry no<br />
more. This continuing series of articles is for you: it covers tips regarding hardware present on most boats,<br />
as well as common sailing techniques, terms and definitions, the names of the different pieces of hardware,<br />
and much more. This will keep you informed about most things you will need before you begin your own<br />
sailing excursion. Be sure to consult with an experienced sailor and someone knowledgeable about boats.<br />
The bow and stern<br />
lines have to be<br />
strong enough to<br />
carry the main load<br />
of the boat.<br />
Article<br />
excerpts<br />
reprinted<br />
from<br />
the book<br />
CRUISER<br />
HANDLING<br />
by BOB BOND<br />
& STEVE<br />
SLEIGHT<br />
Polyform f-series boat fenders<br />
Your boat is probably going to have to spend a good<br />
deal of its life berthed alongside a quay or pontoon.<br />
It is therefore crucial to know how to secure it<br />
properly to prevent it from moving around and<br />
damaging both itself and other craft. You will also<br />
need the proper equipment with which to secure it:<br />
good-quality rope warps, fenders of a suitable size<br />
and shape for your boat that are strong enough<br />
to withstand chafe on rough walls, and cleats and<br />
fairleads fixed to your boat, sturdily made and<br />
securely bolted on. All the equipment with which<br />
to secure it should be checked regularly for signs<br />
of wear and tear, if you do not wish to find yourself<br />
adrift one night in the middle of a gale.<br />
78<br />
In Normal circumstances, you would choose a<br />
berth which is sheltered from the full force of wind<br />
and waves, but now and again you may have no<br />
alternative. Any equipment must be strong enough<br />
to withstand considerable pressure. Make sure the<br />
knots you tie will not come undone.
pment for Berthing<br />
Boat at dock<br />
Rope with plastic tubing<br />
Fenders<br />
Fenders are usually made of plastic, although you do<br />
get rope ones occasionally. They are hung over the<br />
side of the boat, tied to the stanchions or grabrails,<br />
and are carefully positioned to prevent the boat from<br />
rubbing against the sides of the berth, or another<br />
boat. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes<br />
to suit the needs of different boats and berthing<br />
situations. You will need at least four large fenders<br />
on board, preferably more. They are, however bulky<br />
and take up a lot of space. Since only the widest<br />
part of the boat normally touches the side of the<br />
berth, you need only position them where the side<br />
of the boat and berth meet. If you are berthed up<br />
alongside an uneven quay wall, you may find it best<br />
to hang a fender board (wooden plank) outside the<br />
fenders to spread the load correctly and protect the<br />
boat.<br />
Cleats and Fairleads<br />
The cleats on your boat should be as large as<br />
possible, since the larger the cleat the less wear there<br />
is on the warp. There should be no sharp edges to<br />
it, and every boat should be equipped with at least<br />
four deck cleats which can be used for mooring.<br />
Bigger boats will need more. If the warps are under<br />
great strain, you should have a Sampson post. Your<br />
boat should have a fairlead on either side, at the<br />
bow and stern, so that the warps do not rub against<br />
the stanchions or rigging. The fairleads can be open<br />
or closed at the top, although the closed type are<br />
safer since the warp cannot slip out accidently.<br />
Warps<br />
The warps used for berthing a boat serve different<br />
functions. Two warps, which form the bow and stern<br />
lines, position the boat correctly in the berth, and<br />
are used by the crew to control the boat’s speed<br />
when coming alongside. The bow and stern lines<br />
have to be strong enough to carry the main load<br />
of the boat and long enough to allow for any rise<br />
and fall of the tide (roughly three times the tidal<br />
range). Two other warps rigged as springs, prevent<br />
the boat from moving backwards and forwards, and<br />
from rubbing against the side of the berth. These<br />
don’t have to be as long as the bow and stern lines:<br />
one and a half times the tidal range is normally<br />
sufficient. The bow and stern lines and the springs<br />
need adjusting as the tide rises and falls. The bow<br />
and stern lines, provided they are long enough,<br />
need only be adjusted at half tide; the springs may<br />
need more frequent adjustment. If you are going<br />
to leave your boat unattended for some time, you<br />
must make sure that you have left enough length<br />
on the lines to allow for the tidal range.<br />
When lying alongside a quay or wall do not lead<br />
the springs through or under the rails, but take<br />
the instead through the fairleads then outside all<br />
the rigging, to prevent chafe on the deck edge or<br />
lifelines as the boat rises and falls with the tide. You<br />
can use fore and aft breast ropes to keep the boat<br />
close alongside when loading, for example. They are<br />
not, however, essential when both bow and stern<br />
lines, and springs are used. When lying alongside a<br />
floating pontoon, they can be used to replace the<br />
bow and stern lines. When about to leave a berth,<br />
you usually rig the lines ashore as slip lines, so that<br />
the crew does not need to go ashore.<br />
79
Will Fishing<br />
Olympic<br />
80
Become an<br />
Sport?<br />
F<br />
ishing has been recognized for some time as<br />
being the most participated sport in the world<br />
with anglers numbering in the hundreds of millions<br />
around the world and 50 million active anglers in the<br />
United States alone.<br />
The World Freshwater Angling Championships have<br />
been dominated by Europeans since its inception in<br />
1954, being staged on rivers, canals and still waters.<br />
Australian, Dave Wesson, became the first non-<br />
European to win the World Title in 1992.<br />
Words by<br />
JAMES<br />
WEBSTER<br />
Photographs<br />
as credited<br />
The International governing<br />
body for fishing (The<br />
International Confederation<br />
of Sport Fishing) has applied<br />
for Olympic status in the 2020<br />
Tokyo Olympic Games, and<br />
why not?<br />
Critics argue<br />
that there is<br />
no athleticism<br />
involved in<br />
fishing.<br />
Angling has already been<br />
an Olympic demonstration<br />
sport with 600 competitors<br />
vying for Olympic Gold at the<br />
1900 Paris Olympic Games.<br />
Since then Angling has<br />
become a major international<br />
competitive sport. There are<br />
now World Championships for<br />
fishing in its many forms with<br />
probably the largest being<br />
“The World Fly Fishing Championship” attracting<br />
fisherman from all over the world. The WWFC also<br />
hosts the Adventure Fishing World Championships,<br />
a very demanding, nine hour, kayak-based fishing<br />
event which would be an outstanding Olympic event<br />
and one that would certainly silence those critics<br />
who argue that there is no athleticism involved in<br />
fishing.<br />
Yet another prestigious world<br />
fishing event is the “Offshore<br />
World Championships” held this<br />
year in Costa Rica. Maybe those<br />
non-athleticism critics need to<br />
discuss the subject with guys<br />
who have tangled with Blue<br />
Marlin in excess of 1,000 pound<br />
on the fitness levels required to<br />
compete at this level.<br />
There are many, many other<br />
branches of fishing World<br />
Championships including<br />
individual species world<br />
titles such as The World Bass<br />
Fishing Championships and<br />
The World Blue Marlin Fishing<br />
Championships.<br />
Many have given up their day jobs for the grind and<br />
prize money of professional fishing. As in all sports<br />
most have failed but the champions have prevailed.<br />
Case in point is Dr. Martin Arostegui who broke 326<br />
world records in his career or Kevin Vandam who<br />
earned $US4.5 million in Bass Tournament prize<br />
money in 2010 and earned 20 consecutive berths<br />
cebacobay.com<br />
81
in Bass classics. Had fishing been part of Olympic<br />
competition over the last 50 years, both of these<br />
sportsmen would be held in the same sporting<br />
esteem as the likes of Usain Bolt and Michael<br />
Phelps.<br />
So there is no shortage of anglers who have<br />
achieved the same years of training, knowledge,<br />
experience and skill levels in their sport as those<br />
competitors in other Olympic Sports. To those critics<br />
who say fishing is not really a great a spectator<br />
sport I say “watch synchronized swimming for an<br />
hour and then watch an angler fight a massive<br />
sailfish for an hour and tell me what creates the<br />
biggest adrenalin rush.<br />
There is no shortage<br />
of anglers who have<br />
achieved the same years<br />
of training, knowledge,<br />
experience and skill<br />
levels in their sport as<br />
those competitors in<br />
other Olympic Sports.<br />
If Rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming<br />
and what? race walking? can become Olympic<br />
Sport, then fishing should certainly be part of the<br />
Olympic Games.<br />
82
83
Words by<br />
BARRY<br />
DAWSON<br />
Photographs<br />
as credited<br />
TBecause of the mishap at the beginning of the<br />
year in the Hobie Challenge, where 21 Hobies<br />
were lost at sea in typhoon weather conditions,<br />
the usual Round Taal Volcano<br />
Hobie races and regatta had<br />
to be cancelled for this year,<br />
as replacements of these craft<br />
had not yet arrived.<br />
One of the events on this<br />
weekend was the Oz Goose<br />
race, and this year it was time<br />
for the Oz Goose to shine<br />
in the Inaugural OZ Goose<br />
Nationals Regatta sponsored<br />
by Hyde Sails. The Oz Goose<br />
is a small home built craft with<br />
amazing sailing capabilities.<br />
The Taal Lake Yacht Club<br />
is probably the Philippine’s<br />
most active sailing club and<br />
has traditionally focussed on<br />
the Hobies. However Hobie<br />
16 is far too expensive for the average middle<br />
class family. So Commodore and Founder Peter<br />
Capotosto is looking at the Oz/ PD Goose to bring<br />
more people into the club, increase participation<br />
in sailing and to provide a pool of sailors, some of<br />
whom will move into more advanced sailboat types<br />
as their experience increases. The Oz Goose looks<br />
odd – so how do they sail? Top recorded speed solo<br />
sailing has crept up in the last two years. Originally<br />
The Oz Goose is a<br />
small home built<br />
craft with amazing<br />
sailing capabilities.<br />
12 knots it was raised to 12.9 (both on a tideless<br />
lake in Central Texas. And finally rose to 13.8 knots<br />
on a tideless lake in the Philippines. For fleet racing<br />
they are quite competitive<br />
sailed two up allowing learners<br />
or disabled sailors to take part<br />
in racing against the singlehanders.<br />
But how does the Oz<br />
Goose flat bow and flat bottom<br />
deal with rough water? For six<br />
month of the year the wind<br />
blows down to our lee end of<br />
Taal Lake. They get serious<br />
waves and chop with lots of<br />
reflections off the rocky shore.<br />
The goose is very powerful<br />
because of its high stability<br />
and able to carry full sail<br />
happily in 20 knots even with<br />
65kg sailors. it just smashes<br />
any taller wave tops out of the<br />
way, but a bit of heel gives a<br />
smooth ride. In light winds and<br />
leftover chop they can be quite noisy, but the 89<br />
sq. ft. of sail gives good speed and action is smooth<br />
with a little heel.<br />
The weekend of November 18 & 19 saw 17 Oz<br />
Goose craft compete on the waters of Lake Taal, in<br />
what can only be described as a fun weekend where<br />
the OZ Goose proudly showed the sailing world that<br />
sailing can be fun and inexpensive as well.<br />
Oz Goose<br />
Nationals Regatta<br />
84
85
At the start the wind gods were unkind with still<br />
calm waters and not the slightest breeze all morning,<br />
delaying the start till after lunch, when thankfully<br />
the winds picked up to a satisfactory level, paving<br />
the way for an excellent afternoons’ racing with the<br />
Oz Goose craft strutting their stuff. After the days<br />
racing, a complimentary drink was enjoyed by all,<br />
followed by a delicious evening meal.<br />
To get people<br />
started in sailing<br />
you need something<br />
they can afford, that<br />
has good response<br />
and feels right.<br />
The Sunday seen a much<br />
better start to proceedings,<br />
with good winds prevailing,<br />
allowing for some stiff<br />
competition. While<br />
the racing was on the<br />
traditional delicious Aussie<br />
sausage sizzle, sponsored<br />
by Broadwater Marine<br />
was prepared to feed the<br />
hungry sailors after a day of good racing.<br />
Following the Luncheon, Peter Capotosto presented<br />
the awards to the well deserving winners. The overall<br />
winners were, in first place, Peter Capotosto and<br />
Angelique Tuazon, second place went to Michael<br />
Storer and Honey Trazel Mae S.Truz, with Job<br />
Ferranco and Mikee Vinzon taking 3rd spot.<br />
This amazing little craft drew a host of comments<br />
after its’ first national event. Some of the comments<br />
were: Peter Capotosto “I know. It looks like a closet<br />
that someone kicked over and put a mast in it.<br />
When I saw it for the first time, I laughed! It’s a new<br />
design that sails surprisingly well, is cheap, easy to<br />
build, has enormous buoyancy, and as a result, is a<br />
boat that can be used for collegiate and corporate<br />
training, racing, and flood rescue. It hits several<br />
hot buttons. This is a cheap way to get into sailing.<br />
Remember what they named the largest class in<br />
the world? The „Optimist“? Because you had to<br />
be an optimist to think you could sail it? This is an<br />
improved, simpler, larger, more practical boat, and<br />
it’s a lot less expensive. It sails also LOT better too.”<br />
Michael Storer: “The big advantage is that we can<br />
get 10 to 20 people sailing for the price of importing<br />
a single Laser and spares. To get people started in<br />
sailing you need something they can afford, that<br />
has good response and feels right. They will move<br />
on to something fancy later.<br />
Every feature is designed to keep the cost down.<br />
But they have good spars, a light hull, and excellent<br />
foils with simple but effective rigging not requiring<br />
many imported bits of chandlery.<br />
86
87
Over half the people in the fleet had not sailed<br />
before much. So materially adds to the people<br />
involved with the Taal Lake Yacht Club and sailing<br />
in general. But you have to start them somewhere.<br />
Remember that sailing was dropped from the<br />
Paralympics, not enough countries and not enough<br />
participants in each country. They will also be having<br />
a family boat building weekend on the 16th to 18th<br />
of February 2018 some come and join the fun,<br />
please note that one of the conditions of joining the<br />
FBW2018 is the participation of Oz Goose races for<br />
one year.<br />
88<br />
Watch out for more of the Oz Goose in Active<br />
Boating and Watersports, as this easy to build and<br />
sail craft makes its’ mark on the Philippine Sailing<br />
Calendar. If you would like to become involved in<br />
the exciting sport of sailing start by contacting Roy<br />
Espiritu on 09147-871-8547 or Michael Storer on<br />
0977-250-0033 or you can email info@pinoyboats.<br />
org.
89
90