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| Anvaya Cove Beach and Nature Club |
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| Jungle survival training demonstration |
The first leg of Philippine
Kayaking Series, dubbed the “Canon Powershot Kayak Explore Anvaya Cove-Subic
Bay!,” held at the exclusive Anvaya Cove Beach and Nature Club (a 320-hectare
leisure development by Ayala Land in Morong, Bataan) and Subic Bay Freeport
Zone, is a kayak marathon organized by Mr. Valentin "Val"
Camara, Philippine Kayaking Association president, and wife Ms. Andrea
"Didi" Camara. They will play host to 150 elite athletes
which includes co-organizer Kayakasia Singapore’s Cher Huey and his
10-man delegation.
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| The Novice Race gets underway |
The 40 advanced class
kayakers, took off, for the 25-km. first leg (estimated time of completion is 2
to 2.5 hrs.) from Anvaya Cove, and arrived at the Subic Boardwalk . Once
all kayakers were in, lunch was served.
Later, an Aeta group, led by
Tata Kasoy, did a native dance number and a jungle survival training demo
(including how to start a fire, make cooking utensils, cooking food, etc,)
using the versatile bamboo.
Next in the agenda was
kayaking clinic (teaching the basic skills) hosted by Val, and the novice race,
done in two heats, for first-timer kayakers (including car racing driver
Ms. Gaby de la Merced) on tandem sit-on sea kayaks.
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| Romeo Castro & Alexis Atutubo |
The novice race was won, with
a time of 9:33, by Ms. Alfie Argana (a beauty and wellness spa
manager from Cagayan de Oro City) and her 10-year old son Lance Argana.
Second were Karem Miranda and Neil de la Merced (brother
of Gaby) followed by the pair of Kate Edrosolam and Patrick Hong.
After this, the second 25-km.
leg, from Subic Bay back to Anvaya Cove, was on its way. At Anvaya Cove,
the first in was the duo of Mr. Romeo Castro and Mr. Alexis Atutubo (clocking
an impressive time of 3:48:35), followed by Mr. Edward de Vera and Ms. Raven
Qua while in third were Ms. Ranessa Santos (Anvaya Cove Activity
Manager) and Mr. Mark Broncales (Anvaya lifeguard).
Cher Huey (who arrived an
hour late for the race due to an over-subscribed plane booking) and his
Filipino partner still managed to place a respectable seventh (with a time of
4:37:14).
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| The Novice Race winners |
The day’s culminating
activity was the Anvaya Cove Barrio Fiesta which featured a dinner buffet of
local cuisine and Filipino dances and music. This was followed by the awarding
of prizes, emceed by Mr. Joselito "Lito" Cinco, for the top three finishers, which included
Canon underwater cameras, airline tickets from Cebu Pacific, Red Bull gift
packs, outdoor items from R.O.X. and the Primer Group, David’s Salon gift
certificates, Mojos sandals, magazine subscriptions from Action Asia, and
overnight accommodations at Subic Bay International Hotel (where we stayed
overnight) and Caylabne Bay Resort. Later, five locals did some brave kayaking,
in the moonlight, over Subic Bay.
