PINOY AQUAMAN. Lawyer Ingemar Macarine celebrates after reaching the beach of Baclayon town, Bohol. He successfully swam 15-kilometers in open seas from Pamalican Island, Bohol last Sunday. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)
Environmental advocate conquers 15km open-water swim in rough Bohol seas
Triathlete-lawyer and environmental advocate Ingemar Macarine achieved another record-setting goal as he successfully swam from Pamalican Island up north to Baclayon town in Bohol last Sunday.
He is the first man to cross the Bohol Sea through open-water swimming.
Macarine, 39, who is known as the first Filipino to have swam across 2.7-kilometers of San Francisco Bay’s icy waters from the Alcatraz Island Penitentiary to San Francisco City last April 2014, again showcased endurance and courage when he took up the challenge to swim in Bohol’s waters.
It took him five hours and 59 minutes to finish the 15.15-km stretch. Macarine followed the Marathon Swimming Federation Rules and swam without flotation device or a standby sea vessel.
So, naturally, it wasn’t easy.
“It was a deadly combination of strong current which made me change directions about 14 times. Plus, there were strong winds and choppy waters brought about by the northeast monsoon,” Macarine told Cebu Daily News. “My last 4km swim was all breaststroke because I kept on drinking sea water if I do freestyle.”
FOR A CAUSE
Still, Macarine, with his advocacy on his mind, managed to endure all the difficulties and accomplish his goal.
“I did this to promote tourism in Baclayon and also to spread awareness about clean seas and beaches,” Macarine said. His next target is to swim across Subic Bay on March 6.
A native of Surigao, Macarine is now based in Bohol. He has already conquered a lot of full and half-marathons, including the prestigious Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines.
His feat last Sunday was his 19th successful open water swim. Last Jan. 17, Macarine successfully swam from Sumilon Island in Barangay Lipata to Barangay Punta Bilar in Surigao City, a total distance of 11 kilometers.
Because of his unparalleled feat, Macarine was ranked third in the annual “Man of the Year” by the World Open Water Swimming Association.
Macarine is also the first man who attempted to swim from Visayas to Mindanao by swimming from San Ricardo, Southern Leyte to Surigao City, Northern Mindanao. Although the swim was unsuccessful, he made a personal record of swimming 23 kilometers in five hours and 30 minutes in 2014.
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