Lifesaving Sports are relatively new to the Philippines, but have a long History in other countries, especially Australia where it commenced in the 1950’s.
Lifesaving sport was created primarily to encourage lifesavers to develop, maintain and improve the essential physical and mental skills needed to save lives in the aquatic environment. Lifesaving competitions consist of a variety of events to further develop and demonstrate lifesaving skills, fitness, and motivation, it is the only sport in the world that is based on humanitarian grounds.
However, a number of competitions are now organized annually in the Philippines, the fastest growing of these is the Zambales Lifeguard Challenge, sponsored by the Standard Insurance Co. Inc. an annual event commenced in 2012 by Zambales Lifesaving, commenced by Mr. Roger Bound, an Australian and long time resident of the Philippines, had worked since 2004 to make Zambales safer for locals and visitors alike through the training of lifeguards for resorts.
After retiring in late 2013 Mr. Bound formed Zambales Lifesaving Inc. a non-stock, non-profit organization to carry on his advocacy for water safety in Zambales, with drowning prevention and awareness programs for children through their “Swim-safe” a free to the public program for children 12 and below accompanied by a parent and lifeguard training, for which Zambales Lifesaving Inc. is accredited by the Philippine Coast Guard to both train and certify lifeguards pursuant with RA-9993 and PCG MC 03-14.
One of the successes of the Zambales Lifesaving program has been the ability of Mr. Bound to bring together the lifesaving, swimming and surfing communities which has enabled him to get an active Junior Lifesaving program together, for children from five years of age, thus commenced in 2012 at the Great Titan Lifesaving Sports event at Negros with just 3 young girls, his daughter and 2 of her friends, from this it has now grown to more than 40 participants and has since last event become a whole day program held following the Zambales Lifeguard Challenge with will be on Saturday March 2nd. 2019 and the Junior competition on Sunday March 3rd. at Palmera Garden in Bangantalinga, Iba, Zambales, entry is free for spectators. Much of this growth is due to the efforts of Mr. William Asturias, more commonly known as Coach Biboy who has been a driving force is the development of competitive swimming in Zambales and assists with the Junior program of Zambales Lifesaving Inc. as sports director for the Zambales Lifesaving Inc. junior events.
Since 2012, lifeguards from Zambales Lifesaving Inc. have competed in many competitions Nationally, such as in Bacolod and Sipalay inNegros, Mactan and Bantayan Island in Cebu with great success, in 2016 Zambales Lifesaving with the assistance of the Zambales Provincial Government, RP Energy and many other sponsors that ventured into its first International Competition in Patong Beach on Phuket Island in Thailand, at their first attempt they tied for first place against teams from 13 countries, but were awarded second after a count back, they again attended in 2017 and again finished second, by a single point, so this year they decided to again try for a win at Phuket, plan was a team of 3 male competitors, however upon raising the necessary funds there was a small surplus and upon suggestion of Coach Biboy they invite also 2 under 18 females to join for the under 18 individual events, 2 of the under 18 Females were approached, Lovely Pauline Floresca, one of the original 3 that started in 2012 and Heather Colleen Sanguyo a promising swimmer and junior lifeguard, both of these also assisted in raising funds to attend.
So early morning of Saturday December 1st. five members of the Zambales contingent departed from Manila to Phuket Thailand, being Isaac Emmanuelle Daylo, Mark Anthony Jereza and Carlos Miguel Villamin, who had just left the junior ranks to become a senior lifeguard, for the Men’s team and Lovely and Colleen for the under 18 female events, accompanied by Mr. Roger Bound as Coach / team manager and his wife Marichu as escort for the junior girls.
After arrival and settling into the MY Hotel, who had also assisted with special rates for the team, it was off to check out the venue followed by some rest to be ready for an early start on Sunday.
Upon registration the organizers requested that our 2 girls, despite being eligible for the under 18’s form as a team and compete in the Open Women’s division as they appeared far more experienced than the Thai juniors, the majority of which were 12 years or less and only just starting out, everyone was in agreement with this, in fact the girls were egger to compete against the over 18 girls, so Zambales and the Philippines now had representation in both the men’s and women’s open team events.
All started well with Zambales winning the first events in both the men’s and the women’s open category, a great start, at the end of the day’s events it was success for Zambales in both the men’s and women’s open classes with both teams being crowned Champions, plus Isaac Daylo being crowned Ironman Championship and Colleen Sanguyo the Ironwoman Champion.
The really big credit though belongs to our 2 junior girls, as despite being considered the underdogs, played hard and fair, winning outright 6 of their 7 events and finishing a close second in the other giving them a total of 54 points from the 56 points available.
Our congratulations to Surf Lifesaving Thailand a very fair and well run event, also to the officials for their courtesy of dealing with our team members in English during the pre-briefing for all events, also for all competitors for the experiences shared and friendships gained.
Official results: (Points for each event were awarded as follows 8, 6, 4, 2 & 1 for first to 5th.)
Men's Open Division.
1st. (40 Points) Zambales Lifesaving Inc. Philippines. 3 competitors, one 16 years old.
2nd. (27 Points) Le Meridian Phuket Hotel Beach Resort. 6 Competitors, all over 18 including 2 Russians.
3rd. (21 points) Sabah (Malaysia) 3 Competitors all over 18.
Women's Open Division.
1st. (54 points) Zambales Lifesaving Inc. Philippines. 2 competitors, both 16 years old.
2nd.(44) Le Meridian Phuket Hotel Beach Resort. 3 Competitors, all over 18.
3rd. (24) ATUS (A University group) 3 competitors, all over 18.
Ironman Competition;
Men’s division winner Team Zambales Lifesaving Inc. Philippines, Isaac Daylo.
Women’s division winner Team Zambales Lifesaving Inc. Philippines, Colleen Sanguyo.
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