Kayaking the islands

CEBU, Philippines - Sun & Sea Sports Systems, Inc., one of the country’s pioneer in the kayaking sport, together with Bohol Extreme Outdoors and the Philippine Kayaking Association, Inc., hosted a three-day kayaking adventure race and tour last December 4-6, bringing both guests and participants to an exciting and wet ride to two of the country’s most visited places – Mactan and Panglao Islands in Cebu and Bohol, respectively.

Didi Camara, project manager of the Philippine Kayaking Series 2009, revealed that the event started in 1997, and despite its long hiatus in 2002, she said that the organizers were happy that on their return in 2007 they were able to encourage several enthusiasts, local government units and national government offices to participate and promote the event.

Camara added that being an archipelago, with over 7,107 islands, the possibilities for kayaking adventures are endless.

This year, she said that they took kayaking enthusiasts and adventure seekers to three top destinations: the Hundred Islands in Pangasinan, Cavite-Corregidor-Bataan, and finally, Cebu-Bohol crossing.

In September, in an interview with the Philippine Star, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said: “We have natural assets for this ecosport because we are surrounded with different bodies of water like oceans, seas, rivers, marshes, mangroves and 30,000 wonderful coastlines.”

The tourism department helped popularize the kayaking series in the hope of making the country the kayaking capital of Southeast Asia.

More than the race, however, Camara said that participants should be more excited about the tours, as it would be a totally different and exciting experience.

In the Cebu-Bohol series, all three days of the series bombarded the participants with unique sensual experiences, welcoming them to the inner secrets of the islands; secrets that can only be enjoyed as one cruises leisurely in its magical shorelines, watching the changing seascapes as it slowly uncovers the different personalities of the islands.

On the first day, the participants were showed the natural beauty of the Central Visayas islands, with Olango’s migratory birds dotting the shorelines, to Banacon’s lush mangrove forest. Then, there was the stop at the two-faced Pandanon Island, which shows both the tranquility of a secluded haven and the excitement of an overpopulated community.

The second day revealed the beauty of the Visayan Islands under the moonlit sky; with the moon’s reflection smoothly spread on the calm surface of the Visayan seas; or marvel at the living lights that jump from tree to tree, invoking the warmth of the holiday season.

The third day saw the excitement of the nearing conclusion of the race, as participants are taken to a trip down the pristine coastline of Panglao Island.

Truly, with the magical experience brought about by the rawness of the adventure, one could not wait for the next adventure onboard one of the kayaks from Sun & Sea. (Photos courtesy of kayakphilippines.com)