Ingemar Macarine celebrates his successful swim from Limasawa Island to Southern Leyte.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Ingemar Macarine’s successful swim from Limasawa Island to Padre Burgos port in Southern Leyte yesterday was just the beginning of what is expected to be a busy year for the lawyer and environmentalist dubbed the “Pinoy Aquaman.”
The 39-year-old Macarine conquered the 13-kilometer rough seas that connected the pristine Island of Limasawa and Southern Leyte in four hours and 34 minutes for his 25th successful open-water swim.
Macarine said his first swim of the year is just a prelude to tougher crossings he planned for the year. He is next eyeing a 20-kilometer swim from Dumaguete City to the mystical island of Siquijor next month.
After that, he will then pursue his long-time bid to cross the English Channel in August.
“I am going back to Europe to deal with my unfinished business with the English Channel,” said Macarine.
The English Channel connects Dover in the British Isles and Calais, France. It spans 33.7-kilometers (21 miles). He tried to accomplish this last year but failed due to bad weather.
Meanwhile, Macarine said he could have finished yesterday’s in a much shorter time if not for the big waves and strong current.
The swim served as the highlight of the 496th anniversary celebration of Limasawa Island’s historic First Mass celebrated by the Spanish missionaries.