ASAP boosts swimming development in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - The swimming community of Davao yesterday lauded the Aquatic Sports Association of the Philippines for the revival of the sport in Mindanao with the holding of a developmental swimming competition and a two-day seminar in Davao City over the wekend.

ASAP Region 11 director Darren Evangelista said the competition, participated in by age groupers from Davao Ctiy and other parts of Mindanao, would be the start of a continuing effort to develop future national swimmers from the grassroots level.

“We can’t make it, but with ASAP help we can implement a developmental program,” said Evangelista, who said the two-day coaches and parents seminar will be of great help in bringing young swimmers to the next level.

ASAP president Ma. Luz Arzaga-Mendoza and secretary general Susan Papa were in Davao for the competitions and weekend seminar organized by Evangelista of the Evangelista Aquatics & Sports Management, Inc.

The seminar was attended by PASA coach members headed by Jun Rodriguez and Ralph Hilario.

Also with Papa were ASAP technical official Edgar Galeno, asst. sec. Dr. Susan Benasa and 16-year-old Paul Jerome Carpio, a basketball player who finished the 50m freestyle in 33 seconds barely a month after he learned how to swim.

Evangelista and Papa said they were encouraged by the enthusiasm showed by young swimmers who barely learned the rudiments of swimming. They agreed to bring back Mindanao its glory days in the sport.

“There are some kids who swim just in the river in the pier and use a coconut log to practice tumble turns. The adults just polish the tree trunk so the swimmers don’t get hurt,” Papa said.

“I was struck when a good parent from Mindanao provided swimming goggles, board and swim trunks for the kids,” said Papa. “Evangelista is doing good in Mindanao.”