Peace and Unity Swim unites 4,000 Pinoys
By Robbie Pangilinan
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 13 Dec 2010
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The atmosphere was festive and the mood victorious even as the Philippines failed to set a new Guinness World Record for the most number of participants to swim 60 feet in relay within 24 hours.
The Great Pinoy Peace and Unity swim at the Diliman Preparatory School (DPS) in Quezon City was still a huge success despite failing to break the record by The Swim for Children at Padovanuoto, Padova, Italy where 5,028 participants completed a minimum distance of 18.3 m (60 ft) in 24 hours.
Only 4,532 swimmers joined the event on December 10 and 11, 496 swimmers short of Italy?s record.
Former Senator Nikki Coseteng, president of the Diliman Foundation, Inc. and head organizer of the event, considers the Peace and Unity Swim successful because it was able to unite the participants as well as swimming organizations in the country.
Coseteng believes the event contributed to bringing peace to the country at least for 24 hours because many Filipinos watched the event, a bit like the situation when pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao has a fight.
The Peace and Unity Swim pushed through despite several hitches before the event such as the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (PASA), one of the event?s supporters holding tryouts that almost sabotaged the swim. The Manila Waterworks Sewerage System (MWSS) also gave out an advisory that there will be water shortage in Quezon City, leading many to wonder if there will be enough water to fill the Olympic-sized swimming pool at DPS. But Coseteng remained unfazed because DPS has had its own water tank for 41 years already.
Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casino joined the swim, along with former Olympians, PBA?s B-Meg Team headed by its Team Manager and PBA Chair Rene Pardo, and amputee Pete Lozada. President Noynoy Aquino failed to make it but nephew Joshua, son of Kris Aquino participated. The oldest swimmer was Carlos Levica while Coseteng swam last.
The event was endorsed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Department of Health, Department of Education, the Philippine College of Physicians, the Philippine National Police which sent 2,000 participants, the Philippine Swim League with its 600 swimmers, and PACE Idea with 1,000 attendees.
Major networks ABSCBN, GMA, TV5, RPN, IBC, NET 25, and UNTV covered the event, as well as foreign media like Balitang Vancouver of the Reyfort Media Group.
The main objective of the swim to bring Filipinos together in a spirit of peace and unity was achieved, making the organizers satisfied even as the target 6,000 swimmers was not met.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Robbie Pangilinan.
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