Not just another race

Not just another race 
Malaya Business Insight
April 14, 2011

ASIDE from being one of the bases in selecting the country’s representatives to the Southeast Asian Games in November in Indonesia, the 4th Olanga Challenge, an open sea swimming competition set on April 30 in Cebu, will continue its advocacy campaign for the people of Olango Island.

The race features action in the 2K and 6K events but it is more than just a race, according to Antonio Aboitiz, chairman of the Philippine Business for Social Progress in the Visayas and co-chairman of the event’s organizing committee.

"This is for the benefit of both the environment and the people of Olango island just off Mactan. The event serves as an advocacy campaign to highlight the importance of a clean marine environment and has helped improve the lives of 2300 families on the island, aside from helping in environmental rehabilitation," added Aboitiz.

Aboitiz cited the construction of classrooms, promotion of organic vermiculture as a livelihood, and the planting of 5,200 trees on Olango Island as part of the event’s advocacy campaign.

The event, jointly organized by the PBSP and the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association, together with local resorts and organizations in Cebu and Mactan, has seen the participation in the past of Olympian and PSC Commissioner Akiko Thomson, and elite triathletes Nonoy Jopson, sportsman-businessman Fred Uytengsu, and swim coach Guy Concepcion.

Interested parties can join the event by registering on line (pbspro@pbsp.org.ph or pasainc@gmail.com). They can also register at the PBSP office, 4th floor of the PLDT Bldg. on Juan Luna St. in Mabolo, Cebu City or the PASA office, Rm. 201, Bldg B of the Philsports Complex in Pasig.