Philippine Kayaking Series, First Leg (Anvaya Cove, Morong, Bataan)

Anvaya Cove Beach and Nature Club

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.  

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.  

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). 

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.