Champion windsurfer killed in lake by wayward boat

The Palacios home in Quezon City is a repository of memories. Upon entrance, one is greeted by a blown-up picture of a beautiful woman with a radiant smile. Beside the portrait is a cookie jar lovingly wrapped in a sarong (Muslim scarf).

On it the words "Mom’s Cookies" are written. It is in this jar that the ashes of the lady of the house, Vangie Palacios, are kept.

"This jar has been with the family for around 30 years," says Mike Palacios, Vangie and Art Palacios’ only son. "Everyone who’s ever been in this house has dipped his or her hand in this cookie jar."

Vangie was many things in her lifetime. She was a writer, entrepreneur, photographer, mother, wife, water sports enthusiast, and fabulous cook. Among all the hats she wore, she was best known as a windsurfer and spent most of her life popularizing the sport and living the lifestyle that came with it.

Her adventurous nature led her to endeavors that allowed her to explore the outdoors. She used to write for Action Asia Magazine, a sports, adventure and travel magazine based in Hong Kong.

After her regular writing stint with the publication, she continued to contribute articles and organize trips for its writers to various sports events. She even maintained three websites that chronicled her travels with "Julianna," her trusted camera.

"My mom was always so heavily involved with everything that she did," Mike says. "With the windsurfing, she did not just practice the sport, she wanted to make the sport grow. She got her friends together. She made the windsurfers into a fleet."

Vangie and her husband Art were enamored with windsurfing. In 1985, the couple went up to Lake Caliraya for the first time and Vangie got bitten by the windsurfing bug.

"She got addicted to the sport," Mike recalls. "Windsurfing is a lifestyle sport and you have to alter your lifestyle (to be able to keep at it)."

The couple’s adventurous streak rubbed off on their son who also frequented Caliraya.

"I have literally spent 80 percent of my weekends in Caliraya for the last 15 years. I practically grew up there," Mike recalls.

As fate would have it, a trip to Boracay in 1991 paved the way for further involvement in windsurfing. She met up with top windsurfer Nenette Graf and the two women forged a friendship.

Vangie then transformed a local windsurfing event organized by Nenette and some surfers from Boracay into one of the most awaited and prestigious windsurfing competitions in the world. The Boracay International Funboard Cup is an annual windsurfing championship participated in by the top windsurfers of the world.

Vangie’s love affair with the waters of Boracay prompted her and Art to set up businesses there, some in collaboration with Nenette. Later, even after parting ways as business partners, Nenette and Vangie kept their allegiance strong through the Funboard Cup.

According to Mike, Vangie competed in some windsurfing races and did well. For a time, he said, she was one of the top three women windsurfers in the country. However, she was happiest organizing windsurfing races and making people appreciate the virtues of the sport.

"When she organized windsurfing events, people came. They knew it would be well planned," he adds.

She scouted for sponsors and made arrangements. A consummate professional, she was always very business-like in dealing with people whenever wearing her work hat on, Mike narrates.

All throughout the conversation, one senses the deep admiration Vangie’s son has for her. Mike stops mid-sentence and gathers his thoughts. He describes his mother as elegant even when she was in her most informal attire — lovely, beautiful.

"A friend of mine wrote me a letter and said she looked up to my mom as a role model. She was what a modern woman was all about," he says.

Vangie had everything. She did what she loved, had a wonderful family life, and was adored by her friends. Those who believe in soulmates would agree that she found one in Art.

"My mom and dad were partners in everything. They had very similar hobbies and they worked together in the business," says Mike.

He relates that his parents would go to Caliraya every weekend and spend time with their friends. There were those who stopped going while many new faces were added to the bunch, but the most consistent visitors and campers were Art and Vangie.

It was during one of these trips when tragedy struck.

The couple went to Caliraya planning to take advantage of the long Labor Day weekend. That Friday, May 2, Mike got a call from his father.

"My girlfriend and I were supposed to follow on Saturday and Sunday. But on Friday I got a call from my dad saying that an accident had happened in Caliraya," Mike says.

She was teaching some friends to swim. So as to boost their confidence, Vangie swam out to a deeper part of the water. As she swam back to where her friends waited, a speedboat came swooshing in fast and struck her, killing her instantly.

"My dad told me my mom was dead. That was it. There was no hope as she wasn’t hospitalized or anything," Mike recalls.

Since the accident, father and son have started a crusade that aims to improve the safety policies in Caliraya so that no similar incident may happen to anyone who wants to enjoy its heavenly surroundings.

"We as campers have always had certain issues about the use of motor craft in Caliraya," Mike relates. "What happened to my mom was probably the worst. It’s the fact that many motorized craft are driven by first-timers, are driven by minors."

The issues range from seemingly trivial matters like noise pollution and the arid smell of fumes from motorized craft to more serious points like the designation of certain areas for swimming and the use of speed craft.

"There are a lot of responsible powerboat and jet-ski owners and I know of a few. But what I would like to see is some kind of zoning system in Caliraya," Mike reiterates. "A zoning system that is enforced, of course."

It is hoped that no one will suffer Vangie’s fate and that her death will not be in vain. After the interview, Mike offers this writer a taste of Caliraya Mudpie, an original recipe created by his mother.

"This is her recipe, which we plan to immortalize," he says, smiling.