This year, triathlon in the Philippines has officially shown a huge attendance in terms of local participation. Last May this year here in Subic Bay, the annual ITU-ASTC Subic International Triathlon gained a total number of 400 plus participants. On previous years subic triathlon event hardly gets 250 racers. Triathlon clubs also started to make brands; be it corporate or friendly organized team you see them showing up on any multisport events – whatever their goal in joining, all are motivate to finish and enjoy the event.
The recently concluded Cobra 70.3 Ironman marked the launching of triathlon in the country. The bar was raised to international level of organization. Not only the event became a festival for triathletes and enthusiasts, but sounded a great awareness to ordinary people and potential corporate sponsors.
The recently concluded Cobra 70.3 Ironman marked the launching of triathlon in the country. The bar was raised to international level of organization. Not only the event became a festival for triathletes and enthusiasts, but sounded a great awareness to ordinary people and potential corporate sponsors. As a Filipino directly involved in the sport and the business, through the years I saw the shift was phenomenal. The word “triathlon” is starting to become common, of course not as common like in Australia or US. Every local event you will see the presence of enthusiasts, age-groupers, their clubs and friends participating the race wearing flashing multisport brand apparels with their club name and expensive gears, from the event alone you will witness how the sport had grown massive. After few run or cycling event, you will start hearing, “I want to do triathlon soon!”. Surprisingly I saw them in Camsur, not as relay team member, but individual entry! One of the newbie I met there was Robert, a running and swimming enthusiasts, he challenged himself by joining 70.3 riding his old mountain bike, I’m serious, lucky he finished fairly but suffered, especially the bike. After a weeklong recovery Robert went to the store and ordered a Cervelo P3 in full! He claimed that it’s only in the bike leg he suffered most, after reading the bike count he noticed that the name Cervelo was on top of the survey count, so he did get what he want. His intention to push himself to his limitation didn’t end at Camsur 70.3 finishline, rather he requires more challenges and wanting to surpass the previous. Isn’t that phenomenal!
Multisport in general can be a lifestyle for everyone who wants to become healthy despite of busy schedule. Any Filipino age-grouper models an individual in the society; be it CEO, doctors, executives, businessman, student, housewives. Programming ones training schedule for an upcoming race is a challenge itself. I guess the bragging phrase of any age-grouper was to say “despite of my hectic schedule, I managed to train and finished the race.”
Philippines entering to triathlon scene already a showed of how rich our culture was. Filipinos are friendly, fun loving and hospitable. Even the professional triathletes and foreign age-groupers had witness this cultural behaviour. From the airport arrival to the hotel, every participant, visitors, sponsors were welcomed and well taken care of.
I may conclude that the sport of triathlon will last in the Philippines. The sport is loaded on culture that every Filipino can adopt and enjoy. It’s full of challenges emotionally and technically, socials, friendship are very much applied, no discrimination of what status you belong - each one is treated equally.
This also shows why at International events,different nations participate races, any triathlete feels at home and comfortable, easily they can establish friendship among fellow triathletes.
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