MANILA, Philippines - The sponsor of the upcoming largest off-road triathlon in the Philippines – XTERRA – has chosen Albay as venue of the event for the next three years, starting Feb. 8 next year, with some 1,500 participants and about 2,500 guests.
The three-year Albay XTerra Triathlon event is expected to further boost the province’s growing tourism – with more visitors expected to witness it.
The arrangements for the staging of the triathlon here were completed in a recent meeting between Albay Gov. Joey Salceda and Alaska Milk Corp. CEO Wilfred Uytengsu Jr., XTerra franchise holder for the Philippines.
Himself a triathlete, Uytengsu also owns the multi-titled basketball team, Alaska Aces and was responsible for bringing to the country the Iron Man Challenge in 2010.
Triathlon includes a series of swimming, mountain biking and trail running competitions within a predetermined distance and time.The XTerra race series is the best-known series of off-road triathlons, and is considered as the de facto world championship of the sport.
Salceda said the event in Albay could be as big, or even bigger than the Ironman challenge in Cebu, with some 2,500 participants and guests. It will kick off February as one among the opening events of the month-long Cagsawa Festival in Daraga town, with the world-famous Cagsawa belfry and Mayon Volcano at the backdrop.
He said Albay’s sports tourism had a significant push during the Daragang Magayon Festival in April last year, with Mayon 360 50-mile Ultra Marathon, which brought about 1,200 sports enthusiasts and more guests to the province.
“We are sure this event will give the province one big push to maintain and cement its position as the fastest growing tourist destination in the country,” he said.
Albay is the fastest growing tourist destination in the country. In 2013, it posted a whopping 66 percent growth rate.