Hydrate well starting a day before the swim. Hydration is one of the key elements to be swimmingly fine in the water.

Rest well so you’re ready to go by the time of the swim.

Don’t forget your swim gear and sunscreen – important implements to conquer and befriend sunny Cebu.

The Olango Challenge is part of the Kadaugan sa Mactan, and festivities will abound. Part of this is a street party on the same day as The Challenge and one side of the road (M.L. Quezon Highway) from the old bridge to the new bridge in Lapu-Lapu City will be closed off starting Friday afternoon. Be sure to adjust your travel time accordingly.

For those riding bus, please be there before 630am on Saturday. The bus will be leaving at exactly 630am from Cebu City Sports Center, across St. Vincent Hospital.

Registration and check-in tables are open by 8am on Saturday morning at Tambuli East. Please come in early. We are expecting 100 swimmers to come in at that time. Attached is a map to the resort.

Orientation starts at 9am. Since this is an open water swim and safety is of primary importance, any swimmer unable to attend the orientation will not be allowed to swim.

As you may know, this swim is also a charity event that raises funds for the people of Olango Island. Invite your friends and family to pledge money for your swim. Not only are they helping, it’s also an added motivation for you.

As a swimmer in the event, one family member/supporter per swimmer can enter without paying the entrance fee (use of facilities and buffet lunch not included) at Tambuli East provided that you submit their name to us through olangochallenge@gmail.com or call Riva at PBSP at (032) 2325270 and leave their name with us. Security guards in Tambuli will be strict in implementing this. Names have to be submitted by 12nn, 29 April 2011. Additional supporters will be paying PhP 500.00 in Tambuli (Inclusive of entrance, use of facilities and buffet lunch. Same ticket will be sold by PBSP at PhP 475 for 29 April 2011 only).

See you all on Saturday!

Get to read about them in the Cebu Daily News article here.

The 4th Olango Challenge is now accepting swimmers to join the premiere open water swim event in the Philippines! You can download the entry form here.

Against the sizzling waves of the summer waters, swimmers dared a plunge on the beach front of the East Wing of Tambuli Beach Resort for the 3rd Olango Challenge.

It attracted swimmers from as far as America and Japan to compete for the winning slots and help in making a better life for the communities of the Olango Island.

Swimmers heading towards the starting point of the race course.

From more than 50 competitors, Nikita Dacera and Erika Lukang both came out victorious from the 5K competitive category. Respectively, Jason Ong and Lorhiz Echavez both got the top spots for the 2.5K competitive category, Rey Suerte and Alali Villocino capped the 1.5K competitive swim and Franz Baguio emerged as champion for the 5K Fun swim.

The 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE is organized by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in partnership with the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA) to help highlight the importance of having a clean marine environment in Olango Island. It also aims to promote open water swimming as a sport in the Philippines, it being the pioneering event of such kind in the country.

Click here for to see the full results of the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE

Over P124,000.00 worth of cash prizes were given to the winners, while champions of each category got to own a Timex watch as well. Gift certificates and other raffle coupons were also given away.

New records set. The 24th of April was filled with swimmers breaking personal records and successfully accomplishing the pledges of their peers, helping the organizers reach the targeted P1.2 million as proceeds for the event.

Nikita Dacera’s win for the third straight time earned him the first grand slam winner of the Olango Challenge. Dacera also beat his personal record last year, where he finished the race in one hour and 11 minutes. This year, he won with 56 minutes and 21 seconds.

The 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE also witnessed the surprise attendance of Erika Lukang and Loren Dale Echavez, who both got the top spots for the 5K competitive category in the women’s division.

From left: Kiefer Ticao, Nikita Dacera, Erica Lukang and Loren Dale Echavez

The event also attracted the participation of Japanese swimmer Tamotsu Takashi, who, at 70 years old, became the oldest competitor for the 3rd Olango Challenge. He also plans to join the event next year.

For being the earliest person to register for the event, Michael Vega got a gift certificate courtesy of Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa.

To follow up on a pledge, PBSP VIXCOM Chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz also finished his 5K swim in one hour and 28 minutes, helping more funds to come in for the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE.

VIXCOM Chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz as he reached the finish line.

Changes beyond the sea. ‘Teary-eyed’ was how PASA President Mark Joseph felt as he explained how the Olango Challenge sought to provide development to the communities of Olango Island.

“We care, we love Cebu, we love swimming and we help together to make a difference,” he said in his opening speech during the event’s awarding ceremony.

Last March 11, swimmers and sponsors visited Candagsao Elementary School in Olango for the official turnover of the two-classroom school building. The construction of the two-classroom school building was made possible from the proceeds of the 1st and 2nd Olango Challenges.

Jose Antonio Aboitiz and the 5K winners of the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE

VIXCOM Chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz also thanked the sponsors and those who pledged and swam for making the event successful and technically feasible.

Among the major sponsors were Nestlé’s Milo, the Department of Tourism, Aboitiz Foundation, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation and Timex.

Click here for the complete list of sponsors and partners of the 3rd OLANGO CHALLENGE.

“We did some swimming and we did our work,” Aboitiz said.

Proceeds of the Olango Challenge will be used to fund inland reforestation as well as the construction of water catchment systems all over Olango Island.

For more pictures, you may visit PBSP’s Fickr page.

1.5K Competitive Male Category
1st – Rey Suerte (30:44:56), Team Imperial Palace
2nd – Alexander Echavez (30:59:91), University of San Carlos
3rd – Philomer Rubio (35:07:99), Team Imperial Palace

1.5K Competitive Female Category
1st – Alali Ada Villocino (42:25:90), Team Ihk
2nd – Mary Grace Ventic (1:06:52:79), Unattached

2.5K Competitive Male Category
1st – Jason Ong (38:14:80), Team Imperial Palace
2nd – Marcial Hermoso (44:26:69), Team Imperial Palace
3rd – Charles Fletcher (45:21:33), Curl-Burke Masters

2.5K Competitive Female Category
1st – Lorhiz Echaves (37:58:94), University of San Carlos
2nd – Frijie Laude (49:21:85), Team Shangri-la

5K Competitive Male Category
1st – Nikita Dacera (56:21:46), Dadiangastorpedoes Swim Club
2nd – Kiefer Ticao (56:56:06), PCEAS
3rd – Noel Caneda (:08:05:09), Cebu Blue Marlin Swim Club

5K Competitive Female Category
1st – Erika Lukang (1:04:38:46), PCEAS
2nd – Loren Dale Echavez (1:05:20:72), University of San Carlos
3rd – Paul Abigail Vega (1:08:11:85), Cebu Blue Marlin Swim Club

5K Fun Male Category
1st – Franz Baguio (1:09:51:14), Unattached
2nd – Rico Enriquez (1:10:34:48), Team Imperial Palace
3rd – Yoshimitsu Tadauchi (1:13:36), Unattached

Nikita Dacera and 15-year old Palarong Pambansa mutliple gold medalist Erika Lukang overcame slightly rough waters and jellyfish stings to rule the men’s and women’s divisions in the 5K competitive category of the 3rd Olango Challenge yesterday at the east wing of the Tambuli Beach Club.

Dacera of the Dadiangastorpedoes Swim Club successfully relegated closest rival Kiefer Ticao of the Philippine Center for Excellence in Aquatic Sports (PCEAS) once again to second place and become the first three-time champion in the men’s division of the open sea race.

Dacera had a 25.40-second advantage over Ticao, who crossed the finish line in 56 minutes and 56.06 seconds.

Dacera did not disappoint those who pledged that he would be able to finish the long-distance open-water swimming marathon in an hour or under.

Cebu’s Noel Caneda of the Cebu Blue Marlins Swim Club (CBMSC) prevented a local shutout in the top three spots as he salvaged third place with a time of one hour, eight minutes and 5.09 seconds.

SURPRISED
In the distaff side of the 5K competitive category, spectators were given a chance to see the immense competition that Lukang of PCEAS and Loren Dale Echavez of the University of San Carlos (USC) engaged in at the recently-held 53rd Palarong Pambansa in Tarlac.

“I was surprised to see her when I got here but it’s okay,” said Echavez, who lost her 800m freestyle Palaro record to Calabarzon’s Lukang.

Lukang and Echavez both swam in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m events in the Palaro.

The Calabarzon tanker relegated Central Visayas’ strongest bet to second place in the 200m, 400m and 800m but Echavez came back with a vengeance by resetting a 12-year Palaro record in their 100m showdown.

Lukang, a surprise entry in this event organized by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in partnership with the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA), added a new dimension to the much-awaited confrontation between Echavez and CBMSC’s Paula Abigail Vega.

However, experience was not much on defending champion Vega’s side as she succumbed to first-timers Lukang and Echavez.

Lukang came in first with Echavez in second and Vega at third.

Asked why she didn’t surge ahead of Lukang when she was so close, “I chose to just follow in her heels because I was scared I might get lost or go off course,” Echavez said.

Lukang clocked 1:04:38.46, while Echavez crossed the finish line in 1:05:20.72 and Vega finished with a time of 1:08:11.85.

Both Lukang and Vega got points for their endeavor being PASA members and a chance to qualify in the Asian Open Water World Cup in Hong Kong in November and the 2nd Asian Beach Games in Muscat, Oman the following month.

Echavez, on the other hand, revealed that her mother will be talking to her coach for her possibile entry into the PASA.

The bemedalled Cebuano tanker has opted to stay with USC for her college studies despite several offers from Manila universities.

Echavez’s older sister Lhoriz, a member of the RP triathlon team, ruled the women’s 2.5K category with a time of 37.58.94. Finishing second to Lhoriz was Team Shangri-La’s Frijie Laude (49:21.85.)

IMPERIAL TANKERS MAKE WAVES
The men’s 2.5K category was dominated by Team Imperial Palace’s Jason Ong (38:14.80), who relegated teammate Marcial Hermoso (44:26.69) to second place and Charles Fletcher (45:21.33) of Curl-Burke Masters to third.

The men’s 1.5K category had another Team Imperial Palace tanker Rey Suerte clinching first place with a time of 30:44.56, while another Echavez sibling, Alexander, also of USC settled for second place in 30:59.91. Team Imperial Palace’s Philomer Rubio salvaged third place with his time of 35:07.99.

The distaff side had Alali Ada Villocino of Team IHK notching first place with her time of 42:25.90 and Mary Grace Ventic of Unattached in second with 1:06:52.79.

The men’s 5K fun category was ruled by Unattached’s Franz Baguio (1:09:51.14) with Team Imperial Palace’s Rico Enriquez (1:10:34.48) placing second and Yoshimitsu Tadauchi (1:13:36.80) also of Unattached finishing third.

Jose Antonio Aboitiz, PBSP Visayas chairman, kept true to those who pledged that he would finish the race in under two hours after he crossed the finish line in 1:28:34.99, good enough for fifth place in the category and ensuring a good donation to the event’s cause.

The 3rd Olango Challenge hopes to raise P1.2 million through pledges of friends of organizers and participants to build a composting toilet for the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary and other Olango barangays; to be used in setting up water catchments and to fund an inland reforestration in public areas in Olango.

The proceeds of the 1st and 2nd Olango Challenge allowed for a two-classroom building to be built at the Candagsao Elementary School in Olango providing for a much better learning environment for the children.

AT LEAST 50 swimmers braved the summer heat and the new racecourse in the 3rd Olango Challenge at the Tambuli Beach Club, Mactan Island.

The organizers of the event, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (Pasa), said it was easier for them to invite participants this year since swimmers already know about their event.

Nikita Dacera again topped the 5K men’s division for the third straight year, while Kiefer Ticao and Noel Cañeda took second and third, respectively.

In the women’s division, Erika Lukay won first place, while Lorendale Echaves finished second. Paula Abigail Vega, last year’s champion, came in third this year.

In the 2.5K men’s division, Jason Ong took first place over Mucial Hermoso and Charles Fletcher.

Lorhiz Echaves came in first in the women’s side, while Frijie Laude and Karen Tiambay settled for the second and third.

Other winners were Rey Swerte and Alali Ada Villocino for the 1.5K event, and Franz Baguio for the 5K fun division.

The winners got trophies, medals and certificates, while all those who completed the 5K swim got a finisher’s shirt.

Seventy-year-old Tamotsu Takahashi was the oldest participant and said he plans to sign up again next year.

Michael Vega, the earliest to register, got a gift certificate from Shangri-la Mactan.

Organizers also raffled special prizes for the early participants.

Pasa’s Mark Joseph also praised the organizers and said the Olango Challenge is not just about producing great swimmers but producing great people as well.

CEBU, Philippines – The most anticipated face-off of two of Cebu’s most decorated teenage female swimmers – Paula Abigail Vega and Loren Dale Echavez – will highlight the 3rd Olango Challenge that unfolds at Tambuli Beach Club-East in Mactan Island
at 11 a.m. today.

Vega, the defending champion in the Women’s Open 5-k, is targeting for a grand slam in this open water competition.

Echavez, on the other hand, will debut in this event. But with her record-breaking performances in the just-concluded Palarong Pambansa in Tarlac, local fans are anticipating a heated battle between the two.

Vega and Echavez had been compared with each other for a long time, but the two rarely cross path with the latter chose not to join the PASA-sanctioned events until this time.

Loren Dale’s elder sister, Lhoriz, is also set to compete today but only in the 3-k action.

In the men’s side, Nikita Dacera is expected to defend his title.

A bunch of seasoned and fun swimmers are anticipated to join the event.

This year’s edition is said to be the shortest, but could be the most challenging one as participants will go for a 2.5-kilometer box-type course.

The event will have over P100,000 in cash prizes plus medals for the top performers and a special prize for the early birds in this Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)-organized event.

Vega had the chance to be part of the RP team in the First Asian Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia for her sterling performance in the first Olango Challenge, which was a cross-channel swim competition.

Organizers of the event are providing a bus to transport the participants to the venue. Assembly area will be at PLDT in Mabolo, Cebu City. Pickup time is 8:30 am. (FREEMAN NEWS)