Hapee owner makes swimmers happy

MANILA, Philippines - The president of Lamoiyan Corp. made sure this young Philippine swimming team bound for Palembang, Indonesia was given a happy sendoff.

“It was a spur of the moment. I heard there was a Philippine team competing overseas and it needed support. So, I said maybe we should come in,” said Dr. Cecilio Pedro.

The 25 swimmers vying in the 36th SEA Age-Group Swimming Championships on June 1 to 3 yesterday trooped to the headquarters of Lamoiyan Corp., makers of Hapee Toothpaste.

They were presented parade uniforms, including jackets, t-shirts and bags, courtesy of Hapee Toothpaste, which also helped shoulder the air fare for the swimmers and the coaches.

“This team would have gone to Indonesia with no uniforms. Kanya-kanya lang sana,” said Bernard Yang, father of one of the swimmers, Joshua Benzi-Co Yang, who will vie in the 11-12 years bracket.

Yang may be a stranger to international competitions, but is no stranger to winning. In the recent Palarong Pambansa, he won four gold medals, including the 50m and 100m backstroke.

Other Palaro standouts in the team made up of 12 girls and 11 boys are Raissa Gavino, winner of six golds, and Regina Castrillo, winner of five golds in Lingayen, Pangasinan, who are both 12.

This is perhaps the youngest team I’ve ever handled. Let’s not drown them with expectations of winning the gold,” said head coach Archimedes Lim.

“These are young kids. And they’re here to represent the country, their respective clubs, their families as winners. If they win, then it’s a bonus,” said the head coach.

Others in the team are (girls) Ariana Herranz, Roxanne Ashley Yu, Courtney Melissa Gray, Kirsten Chloe Daos, Coleen Elysia Limsui, Maurice Govanne Dabi, Thea Marie Caluma, Shannen Ng, Roxine Louise Kee and Joanna Colleen Simbulan; and (boys) Andrae Miguel  Pogiongko, Jose Marie Sebastian Arcilla, Alfonso Jose Bautista, Gabriel Joshue Flores, Jeremy Bryan Lim, Rafael Sta. Maria, Joshua Taleon, John Eric Santos, Mark Joseph Rominquit and Ianiko Grieko Limfilipino.

Edwin Raganit will serve as team manager while Lim will be assisted by coaches Sherwyn John Santiago, Jayvee Villagracia and Luica Gaudes Dacanay.

Pedro, who swam for Ateneo de Manila in his younger days, gave the young swimmers a lengthy pep talk, and vowed to support them all the way.

“I know how difficult it is to swim. But if you swim only two to three hours a day, that’s not enough,” he said, adding that Olympic champion Michael Phelpsm in his prime, swam seven hours a day.

“He made the pool his office. But there’s no other way to win but to train, train and train. It’s all about commitment and dedication,” said Pedro.

The owner of a two-time champion team in the Philippine Basketball League said Filipino swimmers can excel internationally if they really want to.

“We are all world class. Like our toothpaste – it’s world class,” said Pedro.

Everybody flashed a happy smile.