ORGANIZERS of the National Triatlon Championship announced the winners of the swimming contest covering 3.8 kilometers held in the scenic town of Anda. Capturing first place was Guy Concepcion who clocked one hour and two minutes while the second place went to Niel Catile and third was Arland Macasaeb. Fourth plscer was is Alvin Alindogan of David Salon Team. The swimming event started at the in Anda White Beach Resort , new resort compared to any of the best resorts in Boracay and CamSur. Sponsored by Timex 223, the three sports event culminated with the awarding of prizes, it was announced by Mayor Angelina Simacio in an interview last week.

The enduring 62 out of hundreds of participants of different nationalities slugged it out yesterday with only a few of them grabbing the prizes after it started in Camarines Sur.  Triathlon is a game of endurance, patience and determination as it demonstrates a grueling 180-kilometer of biking; 42-kilometer marathon; and 3.8 kilometer swimming at the pristine and crystal clear seawaters in this tourist town, she added. It started Dec. 2, 2011 for registration; Dec. 3, 2011 – day for the competition; and Dec. 4, 2011 (Sunday) for awarding rites. Simacio said that she expected the influx of hundreds of visitors to watch the thrill-filled event aside from the families of the event participants and sports enthusiasts. The event, she said, is the first of its kind in Central Visayas and in the province is indeed a boost to tourism with jobs opportunities beneficial to the industry stakeholders. She also expected that a handful of beach resorts would have a fully-booked scenario. Expressing her appreciation to the event organizers, she saied that it serves as promotion of the town’s quest to be in the world tourism radar.

Asked how the town got the pricey event considering there are other appropriate places, the mayor said that the organizers just visit the town earlier and found that it is the ideal site for the final leg of the big event. The town located at the easternmost part of the province is home to several low and high-end resorts and scuba shops/resorts established earlier. Among them are Anda White Beach, Flower Beach Resort, Dapdap Resort, Global Resort, Anda Public Beach Resort and dive resorts. It boasts of its nature-endowed beauty in the kilometric stretch of unspoiled white powdery sand that can equal to other places with striking rock formations, tranquil place for vacation and swimming, turtle sanctuary, whale-and-dolphin visits, rich manganese material deposits and recently, the Tarsiers. It has also developed La Manok island of caves and cultural heritage such as the old houses and century stone church and people’s hospitality and values. She said that the construction of building for restaurant at the public market area and another --- Anda Seafood Market and Restaurant at the public white beach owned by the municipal government to cater the needs of the visitors have already been in place. The Seafood Restaurant and cottages at the public beach is funded by Senator Chiz Escudero’s pork barrel in the amount of PhP500,000 to augment the local funds. (RVO)