Tagbilaran City, Bohol (CNN Philippines) — Triathlon athlete and lawyer Ingemar Macarine, also known as Bohol’s “Aquaman,” completed another swim for the environment on Sunday (January 17).
He conquered the historic Surigao Strait, which is known for its strong and crisscrossing currents.
The Bohol-based election lawyer braved an estimated 10.99 kilometers of rough waters to Surigao to promote clean seas, beaches and tourism in Surigao.
Macarine, who was born in Surigao, said he wanted to send a message for the protection of one of the country’s prime tourist and surfing spots.
According to Macarine, the Surigao Strait was treacherous that he had to change direction five times, in addition to the thousands of “nasty jellyfishes along the way.”
He is now back in his hometown in Bohol.
Macarine earned the “Aquaman” tag after becoming the first Filipino to swim the one-kilometer Lucky Lake Swim in Lake Lane in Orlando, Florida in March 2014.
He also made a record as the first Filipino to swim from Alcatraz Island Penitentiary to San Francisco City in California, United States, a 2.7-kilometer battle in one hour.
For the environment
This was not the first time Macarine swam for a cause.
He also made a record as the first man to swim from Santa Fe in Bantayan Island to San Remigio in mainland Cebu with a distance of 19.99 kilometers in seven hours and 45 minutes on April 12 last year, promoting “climate change awareness and tourism in San Remigio.”
Also in May last year, he conquered the Saranggani Bay, swimming 12.95 kilometers from Maasim to Glan in Sarangani Province, “to promote Sarangani Bay tourism and for clean seas and beaches.”
He attempted to swim from Visayas to Mindanao, as the first man to dare swimming from San Ricardo in Southern Leyte to Surigao City in Northern Mindanao. He failed but made a personal record of swimming 23 kilometers in five and a half hours in May 2014.
These are only some of his notable achievements in swimming open seas.
