Sumalinog brothers defend title

CEBU, Philippines - Brothers Lyndon and Ricardo Sumalinog of Talisay City once again paddled their way in perfect harmony to successfully defend their title in the 2nd Sinulog Balik Baroto Regatta last Saturday starting and ending at the shores of Baywalk near the Cebu City Senior Citizen’s Park.

The Sumalinogs smoothly traversed the race route covering almost six nautical miles on the way to post the fastest time of one hour, 11 minutes and 56 seconds. They pocketed P50,000 for their efforts.

It was actually a clean sweep by the Talisaynons, with the tandems of Gilberto Obrero/Fransico Gamboa and Mario Cañon/Arnold Cabalda winding up second and third with 1:12.02 and 1:13.12 clockings, respectively.

Jimmy Pelones and Jonathan Lopez of Tuburan landed at fourth with the time of  1:13.32, while Talisay City's Charlie Abapo and Virgilio Jumao timed 1:15:52, good for a fifth place finish.

The second placers took thome P40,000, while the third to fifth pocketed P30,000, P20,000 and P10,000. Those who made it to Top 10 got P5,000, while all the finishers received P2,000.

Former Customs District collector David "Kuya Boy" S. Odilao Jr. is very elated with the huge success of his project featuring marginalized fisherfolks from Talisay, Tuburan, Moalboal, Badian, Borbon and Argao.

"We started this last year with just a handful of participants and we are very glad that the number of participants this time have increased. I just hope that our Balik Baroto Movement will strengthen in the future," said Odilao, the highly esteemed  'Father of Sinulog' having started what is now considered as the country's mother of all festivals on January 17, 1980.

The annual boat race was co-presented by Odilao's Balik Baroto Movement and the Bisdak Group (Hugpong sa mga Bisaya alang sa Kauswagan ug Kaangayan, Inc.) in association with the city government of Cebu, the Sinulog Foundation and Cebu Holdings, Inc.

It was also made possible through the support of  mayors Democrito 'Aljun' Diamante Jr. of Tuburan, who is also the president of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines-Cebu Chapter, Butch Sepulveda of Borbon and Edsel Galeos of Argao.

Odilao, meanwhile, plans to organize another race this summer in time for the Talisay Liberation Landing Anniversary. (FREEMAN)