74-year-old man wins Pacific fishing tilt in Northern Samar town

LAPINIG, NORTHERN SAMAR, Philippines  - Seventy-four-year-old Omping Engo, and his teammate Felix Ortiz, caught a total of 30.5-kilogram fish to defeat 15 other teams and emerged champion of the recently concluded 1st Pacific Ocean Fishing Competition held this town. They won the P10,000 cash prize.

In close second place was the team of Gil Cesista and Roque Montena with a fish catch of 29.9 kg. to win P7,000 cash prize, while in third was the team of Zaldy Quilicol and Armando Pajares with a 28.7 kg catch and took home P5,000 cash prize.

Each of the non-winning teams got P1,000 in consolation cash prize. All participants also partook of a third portion of their catch.

The contest duration ran in less than 24 hours of fishing in the open sea using only the standard hook and line gear.

Mayor Romualdo Menzon, his brother NLRC Commissioner Aurelio Menzon, town councilors and other government officials sent off the competitors from Canawayon Island---which was about four nautical miles from the town's mainland in Northern Samar---in the afternoon and returned the following day for the official weigh-in of their catch.

Mayor Menzon told The FREEMAN that the contest promoted the use of non-destructive fishing gear to make them aware of the importance in preserving the seas as a source of food and livelihood. "Not only will the townsfolk of Lapinig benefit, but also our neighbors," he said. (FREEMAN)