Cops top Mt. Apo boulder fAce chAllenge

Manila, Philippines - Team Carmen of Davao del norte emerged champion of the first International mount apo Boulder face Challenge held last april 29-30 in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

Besting 18 local and foreign teams, Team Carmen composed of Jonathan Pido, Angelito Sibayan and Edwin Bueno clocked in 22 hours, 51 minutes and 42 seconds for the 24-hour ex- treme challenge and won $3,500 plus a trophy, and serious bragging rights. Team Carmen members are all local policemen who have joined trekking races in the past, but this race is their first as a team.

Team Merrell 2 of Bukidnon was first runner- up, timing in at 24 hours, 10 minutes and 48 seconds, while second runner-up Team AMOSS had an official time of 25 hours, 34 minutes and 30 seconds. Aside from their trophies, the two runners-up took home $2,180 and $1,630, re- spectively, in prize money.

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, through Re- gional Director Arturo Boncato, Jr. of the Depart- ment of Tourism-Southern Mindanao, extended hearty congratulations to the winners, saying,

Sta. Cruz mayor Joel Lopez strikes a gong to open the race as DOT director Art Boncato looks on

TEAM CARMEN (from left): Champions Edwin Bueno, Angelito Sibayan and Jonathan Pido, all local policemen of Davao del Norte. Pido and Sibayan cross the finish line (main photo).

“Your victory manifests the strength of character and the indomitable spirit of the Filipino. You have transcended a most en- during challenge of hurdling more than 85 kilometers of the rugged terrain and ver- dant forest of the majestic Mt. Apo in a lim- ited time.”

“While this challenge’s high adrenalin climb to and heart-thumping descent from Mt. Apo could not have afforded the racers leisurely travel among the lush flora, inter- esting fauna and thriving ethnic communi- ties along the way, let me invite domestic and foreign travelers as well as investors to come and experience the grandeur of our pre- mier mountain and the rest of the Davao region as an ecological and adventure tourism and in- vestment destination,” the Secretary enthused.

In addition to these three winning teams, the top six finishers, who received $218 each as consolation prize, were Teams PMI, Climb Apo, Bugsay Dabaw, MKRTGA and Bibwak both of Bukidnon, and Franklin Baker. Team Bibwak was voted to receive the Sportsmanship Award.

Other participating local teams were Kagrupo, Merrell 1, PMI, Tinikaran, DOLE Philippines, BG Tagum, Panahik Outdoor, PNP, Climb Apo Mulatto, and Climb Apo Tour and Services. Two foreign teams represented Indonesia and Aus- tralia. There were Belgian, French and German teams who registered but their travel documents were not processed in time for the race.

Members of Team Australia inflate their tires

Sta. Cruz mayor Joel Ray Lopez stated, “As the highlight of our town fiesta, the Mt. Apo competi- tion is our humble share to the tourism industry to boost the economy and create better jobs and livelihood for our people and, most importantly, to increase knowledge and positive behavior among host communities and visitors toward environmen- tal conservation. In fact, two days before the race, more than 100 volunteers paid their individual registration fee of P900, climbed Mt. Apo, cleaned- up the area and planted more trees.”

The town of Sta. Cruz is 57 kilometers or 30 min- utes away from Davao City via excellent highways with 60 comfortable rooms plus homestay accom- modations with the hospitable local people.

“Rising 3,143 meters above sea level and a popular mountaineering destination, Mt. Apo is home to the Philippine Eagle, the world’s largest eagle, the rare waling-waling orchid (queen of the orchid species), 378 fauna and 126 floral species, and 19 originating rivers. The Mt. Apo Natural Park consists of 64,053 hectares where 7,000 fam- ilies of 26,500 individuals – among them 3,000

ridge side of the Gabroq E-Camp, Tumpis Base Camp, Tudaya Elementary School until Cabarisan Tunnel.

Racers with their dismantled bikes await the start of the race

The water tubing stage began at its jump off point, the Ayala Cliff, up to the Cebulan Bridge. Finally, the last stage of road run- ning started from the Astorga National High School to Coronon and Talisay, crossing Lobo until the finish line at the Municipal Hall.

“Through our corporate sponsors San Miguel Brewery, Aboitiz Power, Primer Group of Companies, and John Gold Travel and Tours, all team members were required to wear race uniforms and bring along mandatory equip- ment, among other strict guidelines. Some of the team members violated certain race rules and regulations and were disqualified. Others simply gave up along the way due to sheer ex- haustion,” Gabriel revealed.

For details on Mt. Apo’s extreme challenge, e- mail [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected].