Hampac, Silapan rule Zamboanga Open Water Swim

MANILA, Philippines — Austin John Hampac and Aaliyah Zareena Silapan conquered the currents of Zamboanga Peninsula and ruled the second leg of the Regional Zamboanga Open Water Swim Circuit (ZPOWSC) over the weekend.

Hampac covered the five-kilometer swim around the Buluan Island in one hour, 38 minutes and 33 seconds for the men’s title with Silapan clocking 2:34:26 to reign supreme in the distaff side.

Ethan Hugh Dacer and Danielle Filoteo, meanwhile, won the 2.5K category as swimmers from across the country enjoyed a 360-degree view of the famed island while slugging it out in a fierce competition.

Buluan Island, Hall of Fame awardee as the Best Managed Marine Protected Area, proved as a tough watercourse in the race organized by Department of Tourism Region 9 headed by director Dara May Cataluna, as part of a noble advocacy to make Zamboanga Peninsula the center of aquasports tourism, natural conservation and community development. The ZPOWSC is also aimed at identifying talents in open water swimming to produce more national athletes, especially Olympians like Zamboanga superstar weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.

The Tourism Promotions Board with Undersecretary Myra Paz Valderosa-Abubakar and the Provincial Government of Sibugay led by Gov. Ann Hofer also backed the event.