Latvian swims from Bohol to Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - A Latvian crossed Bohol to Cebu by swimming more than 12 hours to promote diving and tourism in Cebu and the Philippines to the rest of the world.

Martin Slisans, 36, started swimming from Loon town at 1:00 a.m. Saturday and arrived in Argao, Cebu 12 hours and 55 minutes later, which was three hours earlier of his target.  

Slisans, who is living in Moalboal for almost four years already, said it was not his last swim because he plans to swim the entire country from Luzon to Mindanao. Slisans, who owns a dive shop back in Latvia, was swimming without fins and other swimming staff and he was only wearing a swimming suit and a mask. He did not eat while swimming, but only drank water once in every four hours.

“I’m happy to inform you that my swim from Bohol to Cebu is complete. Distance with all currents was around 29 km,” said Slisans in his Facebook account.

The beginning of the swim, according to Slisans, was beautiful because he started at 1:00 am and the first task of his swim was to pass ferry lines before they start to operate. Slisans said he had to be very fast in the first 10 kilometers because the first ferry from Tagbilaran City was scheduled at 6:20 am.

“High tide current slow me down, but still I was able to do it. The sunrise was brilliant and I felt so strong and there was also current which speeds me up and everything was fine until the moment when I got sting by first jellyfishes,” Slisans said.

He said there were not only millions but even billions of jellyfish he encountered within two kilometers of his way to Argao. In fact, he posted a video of his encounter with the jellyfish on his Facebook account.

 Slisans said that due to the jellyfishes attacking him, his hands, neck and face are all swollen now and all in ulcers. Although he claimed to be much stronger compared to his last swim in 2010.

“I am much stronger than last time and actually the most difficult for was just the last three kilometers and after jellyfish attack,” he said.

The last three kilometers for him was so hard because there was low tide current and he felt that he was kicking on site and the coast line did not come closer.  Slisans said he is grateful to all the people who have supported him and those who were on site while he was swimming.

He also extended his gratitude to Holger Horn, for keeping his swim safe as he was the one who organized a representative of the coast guard on boat and to Larry Magbanua who took care of him while swimming.

Slisans said that he was also touched by the people from Moalboal who went to meet him in Argao.

“I was close to cry, really. They come 80 km from Moalboal just to shake my hands, hug and say good words to me and that’s why I love Philippines and their people,” Slisans said.

Slisans also swam 25 kilometers from La Libertad, Negros Oriental to Moalboal, Cebu in April 2010.

After traveling to more than 50 countries all over the world, he believe that tourism is a big industry in the country, which would give good income to the people.

Slisans said he has a huge experience in the tourism industry already, especially in diving. In his first time to Cebu, he was with other European divers and went to Moalboal and Malaspascua.— (FREEMAN)