THE ability of sports to be an agent of positive change was brought to the fore over the weekend as six top-class open — water athletes took part in an environmental cause to protect and conserve the seas and the coral reefs.
 
Organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), “Reef Strokes,” a swimming event off the waters of Nasugbu, Batangas, and in celebration of Coral Triangle Day, saw athletes Ingemar Macarine, Frank Lacson, Betsy Medalla, Julian Valencia, Moi Yamoyam and Miguel Villanueva swim some 10 kilometers to create awareness for the protection of the seas.

Specifically, the day-long event last Sunday at the Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club highlighted the dangers of plastic pollution and climate change on the Verde Island Passage, dubbed as the center of the marine shorefish biodiversity.

The Verde Island Passage, part of which surrounds the province of Batangas, boasts of an incredible array of marine species and is a rich production area for fishing.

“Symbolically, the 10-kilometer swim is a daunting task like protecting our marine resources. It’s not easy but it can be done,” said Joel Palma, president and chief executive officer of WWF-Philippines in an interview with BusinessWorld on the sidelines of the media briefing following the swimming event.

He went on to say that events like Reef Strokes are very significant because the protection of the environment cannot be underscored more especially these days when man-made disasters and natural events are taking their toll, and that everybody should participate in it whether they are conservationists, athletes and businessmen, among others.

During the weekend swim, the open-water athletes swam 10 kilometers in the waters of Nasugbu.

Swim coach Medalla, the lone female swimmer that participated, swam 10.65 kilometers (km) in three hours and 12 minutes. Mr. Valencia, meanwhile, traversed 10.6 km in three hours and 13 minutes.

Mr. Lacson, known as “The Legend” and considered one of the pioneers in triathlon in the Philippines, went 10.5 km in four hours and 15 minutes while coach and former member of the Philippine National Triathlon Yamoyam swam four hours and 51 minutes for 10.2 km.

Mr. Villanueva went nine km in four hours and 53 minutes and Mr. Macarine swam three hours and 31 minutes for 7.1 km.

FOR A CAUSE
While admitting that swimming with strong current was not easy, still the athletes welcomed the challenge, knowing fully that they are doing it for a far bigger cause.

”By doing this we are accomplishing two things. One is encouraging more people to go into the water and experience it up close so as to appreciate it more. And another is encouraging conservation. That it is time we do our part in the protection of our natural resources like the coral reefs,” Ms. Medalla said.

Mr. Lacson, for his part, said it is about inspiring to move for change in how people treat the environment.

“We are doing open-water swimming and we are in position to know the conditions in it and I’m very thankful to be given this opportunity to help educate people about the importance of having a healthy marine ecosystem,” he said.

For Mr. Valencia, events like Reef Strokes and its cause to protect the seas can also give back to the sport of triathlon.

“Triathlon is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. It has become a venue for sports tourism. And most of the triathlons here are being held in open waters and obviously when the seas are clean, more people would want to go in it,” said Mr. Valencia, one of two Filipinos to cross the Robben Island Channel in South Africa, the other being Ms. Medalla.

Reef Strokes was organized with help from Hamilo Coast, Pico Sands Hotel, Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club and Cebu Pacific.