Elite triathlete and back-to-back Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) medalist Kim Mangrobang has officially been confirmed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as an awardee of the Women in Sports Awards which will happen on March 20, 2024 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
It is with immense pleasure and that we extend our warmest congratulations to You.
You have been distinguished as an awardee at the upcoming Women in Sports Awards, scheduled for 20 March 2024, at the prestigious Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
This distinguished event, the first of its kind in our nation, serves to recognize exemplary women athletes who have demonstrated outstanding prowess or given significant contributions into their respective fields in sports.
The Women in Sports Awards aim to highlight the extraordinary accomplishments of female athletes, offering them the recognition they truly deserve. This accolade not only celebrates their successes but also aims to inspire future generations of athletes to pursue excellence and foster a robust culture of sportsmanship and vitality within our community.
For the newcomers reading this, Kim Mangrobang (full name: Marion Kim Mangrobang) is one of the finest triathletes of the Philippines. She won several gold medals for the country in the SEA Games over the past years, including victories in the sport of duathlon (run-bike-run). To see some of her many achievements, watch the YouTube videos below…
Welcome back my readers and sports fans! The 32ndSoutheast Asian Games in Cambodia are officially over and the Philippines won more gold medals compared to the previous SEA Games and Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino hailed the Filipino athletes for a job well done.
Cebu’s Matthew Justine Hermosa (leftmost) holding the Philippine flag with teammates Iñaki Lorbes, Kira Ellis and Erika Burgos after their gold medal victory in the 32nd SEA Games aquathlon team relay event. (note: photo sourced from Triathlon Association of the Philippines Facebook page).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Cebu Daily News article. Some parts in boldface…
Cebuano triathlete Matthew Justine Hermosa said he did not expect to win a gold medal in his first stint in the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) after he and three other Filipino triathletes topped the mixed relay of the aquathlon event last May 6, 2023, at Kep Beach in Cambodia.
The 18-year-old Talisay City native ruled the mixed relay of the aquathlon event at one hour nine minutes and 56 seconds. Joining him was Kira Ellis, Erika Burgos and Iñaki Lorbes in winning the gold medal.
For Hermosa, it was a fun and challenging experience for him.
“For me, I didn’t expect to win gold, I expected a podium finish like maybe bronze or silver. It was a great bonus to receive and take home the gold medal and adding it to the tally,” said Hermosa.
“It was fun and at the same time it was quite challenging. The pressure from it is very different from our local races. Everyone’s eyes are on you and the expectations are so high. It was indescribable and mixed emotions to have won the gold medal but thankfully we did,” he said.
From left to right: Fer Casares, Kim Mangrobang, Iñaki Lorbes, Erika Burgos, Andrew Kim Remolino and Matthew Justine Hermosa showing their 32nd SEA Games medals upon arrival at the airport. (photo credit: Manila Bulletin)
The other two were Andrew Kim Remolino who secured a silver medal in the men’s aquathlon and a bronze medal in the men’s triathlon event. Also, 2022 SEA Games bronze medalist Raven Faith Alcoseba competed along with them.
“It was a very challenging race because for aquathlon you have to do a swim of 500 m and after that you have to do a sprint run of 2.5 km. On the swim it was a very big challenge because the waves were so big, the water was so dark and the current was so strong that it would push you back to the shore,” Hermosa recalled.
“But I was fortunate enough to come out of the swim 3rd behind Vietnam and Indonesia, and on the run I was able to catch up with the two and I was able to finish 1st and giving a few seconds gap to my fellow teammates.”
With regards to post-SEA Games events, the Philippines will be sending triathletes to the Asian Games which will happen in China this September-October.
Watch out for more Philippine multisport updates right here!
In relation to this, the Philippine multisport team members arrived home victorious. Welcomed at the airport were Fer Casares the Men’s Triathlon gold medalist, Kim Mangrobang the Women’s Duathlon gold medalist and Women’s Triathlon Silver Medalist, Andrew Kim Remolino the Men’s Aquathlon silver medalist and Men’s Triathlon bronze medalist, and the members of the Mixed Aquathlon 4X Team Relay champions Erika Burgos, Iñaki Emil Lorbes and Matthew Justine Hermosa. Given the back-to-back SEA Games victories they each achieved, Casares is the reigning King of Triathlon in Southeast Asia while Mangrobang is the reigning Queen of Duathlon of the region.
Image of the Philippine multisport team who won medals at the 32nd SEA Games posted on social media by the Manila Bulletin. (photo credit: Manila Bulletin)
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA sports news story. Some parts in boldface…
Fernando Casares is hoping for the best when he competes at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8.
The Filipino-Spanish triathlete successfully defended his Southeast Asian Games title in Cambodia last Monday and while he is determined to make an impressive debut in China, getting a podium finish would be hard.
“The level is incredibly high, probably not,” said Casares in an interview Wednesday afternoon. “I would love to achieve Top 10 but I’m aware of the level.”
He clocked 58 minutes and 33.5 seconds to claim victory in Cambodia, beating Indonesian Rashif Yaqin (58:47) in the 750m swim-20km bike-5km run men’s event at the Kep Beach Resort.
Cebuano Andrew Kim Remolino placed third in 59:53 to settle for the bronze, his second medal following a silver finish in the men’s aquathlon on May 6.
“Obviously my main goal was to win the gold medal in triathlon since I already won in the last SEA Games in Vietnam, the issue was that this time, the distance was sprint, not standard, so the level was going to be more equal. Throughout the race, I wasn’t very sure if I was going to win because the gap between the lead pack and us (Kim Remolino and me) was considerably big after the swim, but we did an amazing job on the bike, closing the gap that much that we almost caught the lead pack before reaching T2 (20″ gap). As soon as I started running, I knew I was going to get a podium because I knew very well my rivals, however, I wasn’t sure if I could get the gold since Remolino and the guy from Indonesia were the fastest runners along with me,” said Casares, who was born in Madrid to a Spanish father and a Filipino mother.
“It took me 2.5km to overtake the leader and once I reached kilometer 3.75, I knew I would win because there was a considerable gap. But unfortunately, I started to feel dizzy because I was going all out, as if I was going to bonk, so it was quite stressing until the last 100m because I didn’t know if the Indonesian was going to sprint on the last part,” he added.
“Achieving this victory means everything to me, all the hard work I’ve been doing for months paid off, now I’ll be able to keep training as a full-time athlete, thanks to the salary I’ll keep receiving from the government, which is quite a relief,” he said.”But the best feeling about winning the gold medal is the supportive messages I receive from my kababayan (countrymen), it’s quite comforting to make everyone proud and to raise our flag to the top.”
Meanwhile, Casares will leave for Osaka, Japan next week with three-time SEA Games women’s champion Kim Mangrobang. They will compete in the Asia Cup set on May 26.
“It’ll be good to get some points for my international ranking. After Osaka, my plan is to go back to Spain to make the most of its weather, since it’ll be summer by then. There’s so many high-level national races that I can join, and even Europe Cups and World Cups. All these will be my preparation for the Asian Games,” said Casares, who joined two tournaments in New Zealand — Oceania Cup in Taupo, and World Cup in New Plymouth — as part of his training for the SEA Games.
Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) President Tom Carrasco had earlier predicted three gold medals.
Aside from Casares, the other gold medalists were Mangrobang (duathlon) and the mixed aquathlon relay team of Erika Burgos, Inaki Lorbes, Kira Ellis and Matthew Hermosa.
Mangrobang also got a silver medal in the triathlon, clocking (1:07:21) to finish second behind Cambodian naturalized entry Margot Garabedian (1:05.34). Singapore’s Louisa Marie Middleditch was third (1:07:24).
The Philippines leads the SEA Games all-time medal tally in triathlon, duathlon and aquathlon, with 35 medals — 15 golds, 12 silvers and 8 bronzes.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a triathlon enthusiast, are you looking forward to the next overseas campaigns of the Philippine team triathletes? What is your opinion about Cambodia’s move on having more competitive foreign athletes naturalized as part of their strategy to win events in the SEA Games that they themselves have been hosting?
Welcome back my readers and sports fans! The much-awaited triathlon events for men and women at the 32ndSoutheast Asian Games (also referred to as SEA Games and Cambodia 2023) have happened and the result for the Philippines was mixed.
Firstly, Fer Casares successfully won the gold medal again for the Philippines in the Men’s Individual Triathlon which establishes him as still the reigning king of triathlon in Southeast Asia. The official results showed that Casares completed the 750 Meter swim – 20 Kilometer bike – 5 Km run contest in 58 minutes and 32 seconds (58:32) and he was just 13 seconds ahead of silver medalist Rashif Amilya Yaqin of Indonesia. Technically Casares swam in 10:38, had 23 seconds in Transition 1, biked for 29:48, had 24 seconds in Transition 2 and ran for 17:19. Comparing his performance with the silver medalist, Casares came from behind to win the gold.
From the social media post of the Philippine Sports Commission.
Cebu-based Andrew Kim Remolino won the Men’s Triathlon bronze in addition to the silver he won for the nation in the Men’s Aquathlon.
In the Women’s Individual Triathlon, Kim Mangrobang finished with the silver medal as Cambodia’s naturalized French-born Margot Garabedian took the gold (note: she also won gold in the Women’s Aquathlon). Mangrobang finished the race in 1:07:21 (11:28 in the swim, 34 seconds in Transition 1, 34:47 in the bike, 28 seconds in Transition 2 and 20:04 in the run) while Garabedian 1:05:31. The bronze medal went to Singapore’s Louisa Marie Middleditch who was just seconds behind Mangrobang at 1:07:28. while Cebu-based Raven Faith Alcoseba finished at 4th place with 1:08:46. Very noticeable was Garabedian’s teammate Toch Raksa finishing only at 10th place with 1:30:54.
Kim Mangrobang won the Women’s Triathlon silver medal and the gold medal in the Women’s Duathlon.
The issue about the naturalization of foreign athletes as Cambodians is already attracting a lot of attention. Take note that there were other naturalized Cambodians who took part in the SEA Games (read about them here and here). It should be noted that the host nation bent the rules of the naturalization process. Following the end of the SEA Games this year, citizenship could become a hot topic of debate on sports competitions at least in Southeast Asia.
While Mangrobang was denied of the gold this time around, her achievement of winning back-to-back SEA Games women’s triathlon (2017, 2019 and 2021) remains historic and has yet to be surpassed. She is also still Southeast Asia’s reigning duathlon queen and Cambodia itself did not do well in the SEA Games women’s duathlon event as well as in the men’s aquathlon event as the official race results showed. It took a female competitor who was born in France to help Cambodia win the gold in triathlon and aquathlon just as they hosted the SEA Games for the first time ever. Remember that, my readers.
If there is anything else significant about the 32nd SEA Games, it is the fact that medal events of aquathlon, duathlon and triathlon got organized for the first time in Southeast Asia’s multisport history. The Philippines is part of it and its medal victories cannot be ignored.
For the record, the Philippines won the gold medals in Men’s Triathlon, Women’s Duathlon and the Mixed Aquathlon 4X Team Relay. Also secured were the silver medals in the Men’s Aquathlon and Women’s Triathlon, and the bronze in Men’s Triathlon. These are achievements that Filipinos can be thankful to the Lord for. Indeed, Southeast Asian sports competition has gotten tougher but the Philippines remains a multisport powerhouse in the region and for sure adjustments and further refinements will follow for future overseas competitions. The next SEA Games will be hosted by Thailand.
Let me end this post with the bible verse below…
I know what it means to lack, and I know what it means to experience overwhelming abundance. For I’m trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether in fullness or in hunger. And I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty.
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Welcome back my readers and sports fans! This morning at Kep in Cambodia, Kim Mangrobang proved once again that she is still Southeast Asia’s reigning queen of duathlon (run-bike-run) as she won the gold medal in the Women’s Individual Duathlon event of the 32ndSoutheast Asian Games (also referred to as SEA Games and Cambodia 2023). The gold she won was the 10th gold for the Philippines in the ongoing regional games as of this writing.
The reigning Southeast Asian Queen of Duathlon Kim Mangrobang with teammate Kira Ellis and the Philippine flag at Kep, Cambodia. (photo credit: Ramon Marchan)
To put things in perspective, the official results showed that Mangrobang finished the 5 Kilometer run – 20 Km bike – 2.5 Km run event in 1 hour, 4 minutes and 23 seconds (1:04:23). She timed 20:13 in the 5Km run leg, had 23 seconds in Transition 1, completed the 20 Km bike leg in 33:20, had 23 seconds in Transition 2 and completed the 2.5 Km run in 10:04 (note: the fastest run time).
Thi Phuong Trinh Nguyen of Vietnam captured the silver medal in 1:05:12 while Indonesia’s Maharani Azhri Wahyuningtyas ended with the bronze clocking in 1:06:14. Mangrobang’s teammate Kira Ellis – who was part of the gold medal-winning aquathlon relay team – finished at 5th place with 1:07:11.
The image from the Facebook post of the Philippine Sports Commission.
Meanwhile on the Men’s Individual Duathlon, the Philippine duo of Fer Casares (the gold medalist of last year’s SEA Games triathlon along with Mangrobang) and John Chicano (the 2019 SEA Games gold medalist in men’s triathlon) fell short at 5th and 6th places. Casares timed 55:18 while Chicano clocked 55:39. Vietnam won the gold followed by Cambodia the silver and Indonesia the bronze.
Mangrobang’s duty is not over yet as she will be racing in the Women’s Individual Triathlon tomorrow morning at 6:30 AM. We will find out if she can win another SEA Games triathlon gold medal for the Philippines. The Men’s Individual Triathlon will follow at 8:30 AM.
For the Philippine readers, the multisport enthusiasts and the faithful people reading this, be thankful to the Lord for today’s gold medal victory, honor Him and know that with Him, nothing is impossible. Learn from the holy scriptures below…
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34 (NKJV)
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26 (NKJV)
Watch out for more 2023 SEA Games multisport updates right here.
Japan’s Ren Sato defends his title in the elite male division and Sarika Nakayama takes a stab at the women’s crown vacated by their compatriot on the final day of the celebration of the 30th year of the Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) this Sunday.
Top world ranked (No. 35) in the field of 66 men, Sato is backstopped by 82nd ranked Jumpei Furuya and 87th Genta Uichida, last year’s 5th placer, in his bid for back-to-back championship at the longest running Olympic distance triathlon in Asia and the first and oldest sporting event at the Subic Bay Freeport.
Last year’s 3rd and 6th placers Aussie Oscar Dart (WR- 112) and Hong Kongite Jason Tei Long (WR- 94), respectively, and Uzbek Alexandr Kurishov (WR- 105), runner up in the April 1 Asia Triathlon Cup Pokhara, loom as dark horses.
On the women’s competition of what is also known as 2023 NTT AST Subic Bay Asia Cup, while Nakayama is ranked 77th in the world she was beaten by 39 seconds in the March 26 2023 World Triathlon Cup Plymouth. Aussie Charlotte McShane (world rank-91st) finished 35th ahead of Nakayama 38th.
All-out to spoil the top duo’s venture is Slovakia’s Margareta Bicanova (WR- 93), 3rd in Asia Triathlon Cup Pokhara, backed up by her country women Zuzana Michalickova (WR- 101), 40th in World Triathlon Cup Plymouth, and Komana Gajdosova (WR- 106), 3rd in 2023 Africa Triathlon Cup Troutbeck.
Before the year past, the last time the Japanese ruled the elite men was in 2017 when they romped off with 1st,3rd and 5th positions with the Koreans inserting themselves in-between; and in the elite women in 2015 when they finished 1-2.
As a platform for our local bets, as well as the other ASEAN countries’ hopefuls, to gauge their preparation for next month’s Cambodia Southeast Asian Games’ May 6 triathlon events, SuBIT, organized by Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), joined the trend in world and cups triathlon cups in downsizing the distances for elites to sprint.
Suiting for the Philippines in SuBIT presented by NTT and Asian Triathlon with Philippine Sports Commission, Standard Insurance and Asian Center for Insulation Philippines, Inc., are: male- Fernando Casares, Kim Remolino, Josh Ramos and Mathew Hermosa; female- Kim Mangrobang, Raven Alcoseba, Heart Quiambao and Kira Ellis (youngest at 17).
Mangrobang has dominated the past three editions of SEA Games triathlon while Casares was 2021 Vietnam SEA Games gold medalist.
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The above information was sourced from an official press release issued by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines. Some parts were modified for this website.
There is no denying that the Philippines had a big weekend winning 3 gold medals, 1 silver medal and a bronze medal in the triathlon and duathlon events of the 31st Southeast Asian Games (AKA the 31st SEA Games, SEA Games 31 and Hanoi 2021) in Vietnam. To be specific, Fer Casares and Andrew Kim Remolino won the men’s triathlon gold and silver medals on May 14 while Marion Kim Mangrobang and Raven Faith Alcoseba secured the gold and bronze for the country in the women’s triathlon event that same day. The next day, Mangrobang won the gold in the women’s duathlon which fully established her as Southeast Asia’s reigning queen of triathlon and duathlon until the next SEA Games in Cambodia.
Deservedly, the medalists and their coaches were warmly welcomed at the airport upon arrival from Vietnam as seen in the following images released by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) through Facebook. Check out the images below…
The Philippine triathlon team welcomed at the airport upon arrival from Vietnam. (photo source – Philippine Sports Commission)
SEA Games gold medalist in men’s triahlon Fer Casares. (photo source – Philippine Sports Commission)
SEA Games double-gold medalist (women’s triathlon and women’s duathlon) Kim Mangrobang. (photo source – Philippine Sports Commission)
SEA Games silver medalist in men’s triathlon Andrew Kim Remolino. (photo source – Philippine Sports Commission)
SEA Games bronze medalist in women’s triathlon Raven Faith Alcoseba. (photo source – Philippine Sports Commission)
On the future of the SEA Games, the next edition – the 32nd Southeast Asian Games – will be hosted by Cambodia in May 2023. What is significant about next year’s games (promoted as Cambodia 2023) is the fact that it officially has triathlon, duathlon and aquathlon among its many events. In relation to this, the Philippine Star published a report about the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) looking forward to winning even more gold medals in the 2023 SEA Games with the three mentioned multisport events in mind.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Philippine Star report. Some parts in boldface…
After coming short of its sweep bid, the Triathlon Association of the Philippines is looking forward to the next edition of the Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia where it has chance to rake in more gold medals.
“Next year in Cambodia, there will be three events each for triathlon, duathlon and aquathlon,” said TRAP president Tom Carrasco. “We’re back to the drawing board because we also have to prepare for the World Games Duathlon in July.”
The official logo of the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
The country came into the Hanoi event eyeing 1-2 finishes in all four events but wound up with just three gold medals, including two from Kim Mangrobang, a silver from Kim Remolino and a bronze from Raven Alcoseba also in triathlon.
Fer (Casares) delivered the other gold in men’s triathlon.
John Leerams Chicano, a two-time triathlon SEA Games gold winner, failed in his SEA Games duathlon debut as he wound up just fourth.
The Filipinos hope to bounce back big in Phnom Penh.
The above report ended with the TRAP president stating that in Cambodia, they were allowed eight to nine events to include duathlon, aquathlon plus mixed relay teams. For the newcomers reading this, aquathlon is a multisport race or activity that consists of running and swimming.
In ending this post, let us all thank our Lord for what the Philippine triathletes achieved in the SEA Games in Vietnam. Thank the Lord that He will bless the medalists and the coaches for their achievements as the government will release cash incentives to them in accordance to Republic Act Number 10699. For future multisport events that the triathlon team will engage in, pray to our Lord for His guidance on them so that they can achieve victories and bring in more glory and honors for the Philippines. Pray to the Lord with the holy scriptures posted below.
I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7 (AMPC)
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 (NASB)
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)
O Lord our God, let your sweet beauty rest upon us. Come work with us, and then our works will endure; you will give us success in all we do.
While many sports enthusiasts around the Southeast Asian region are eagerly waiting for the delayed 31st Southeast Asian Games (also referred to as 31st SEA Games, SEA Games 31 and Hanoi 2021) in Vietnam to finally start, triathlon here in the Philippines is getting more active after being dormant under the COVID-19 crisis. In fact, triathlon interest among Filipinos is only getting stronger and the other day, the Philippine Daily Inquirer published an article highlighting 2019 SEA Games gold medalists John Chicano and Marion Kim Mangrobang as the favorites in two different multisport events in this year’s SEA Games.
To be specific, the Inquirer viewed Chicano (the 2019 SEA Games men’s triathlon gold medalist) as the Philippines’ best bet in the 31st SEA Games men’s duathlon event while Mangrobang (2019 SEA Games women’s triathlon gold medalist) remains the heavy favorite in the 31st SEA Games women’s triathlon event. But before going to Vietnam, Chicano and Mangrobang will be participating in the NTT AST Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) 2022 on May 1 at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone!
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Inquirer sports article written by June Navarro. Some parts in boldface…
Kim Mangrobang remains as the heavy favorite in women’s triathlon of the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam while John Chicano is the country’s strongest bet in duathlon.
Mangrobang, the back-to-back women’s SEA Games gold medalist, and the 2019 men’s champion Chicanowill headline the country’s jaunt in the Subic International Triathlon (SUBIT) on May 1, their last big hurdle before heading to the Vietnam Games to defend their titles.
They will be tested against 30 elite foreign triathletes from Australia, Japan, United States, Poland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, India and Azerbaijan bannered by Ukraine-born Olympian Rostyslav Pevtsov.
Joining Chicano and Mangrobang at Subit, now returning at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone after a two-year hiatus, are national team mainstays Raven Faith Alcoseba and 2019 SEAG men’s silver medalist Kim Remolino.
Alcoseba and Remolino belong to the Triathlon Association of the Philippines’ new crop of young triathletes to keep the nation’s gold-medal streak in the SEA Games going since 2015 in Singapore.
On its 29th year, Subit is the country’s longest running triathlon with newly installed Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Rolen Paulino serving as assistant race director during its inaugural edition.
“I’m proud to say that Subit has produced our SEA Games champions, Asian duathlon gold medalists and notable performers in both the 2014 Incheon and 2018 Palembang Asian Games,’’ said Trap president Tom Carrasco.
The first international-flavored triathlon event in the country since the onset of the pandemic, Carrasco said the Subit plays a major role for the preparation of Chicano and Mangrobang as well as their teammates to again rule the triathlon races in the SEA Games for the fourth consecutive edition.
If you want to know more about John Chicano and Kim Mangrobang, read my separate feature articles of them on this website. Also check out the videos below.
As the SEA Games hosted by Hanoi, Vietnam slowly approaches, more and new details about the triathlon and duathlon events there should be revealed. Eventually the names of all the SEA Games competitors in the men’s and women’s events in triathlon and duathlon will be announced. Take note that host country Vietnam has almost one thousand athletes joining the SEA Games.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Are you excited for the duathlon and triathlon events of this year’s SEA Games? If you are here in the Philippines, would you be interested to visit Subic Bay to watch the Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT) in person and watch SEA Games gold medalists John Chicano and Kim Mangrobang race? Do you anticipate that Chicano and Mangrobang will both bring home the gold from Vietnam?
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from John Chicano by means of an interview and research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
A Chat with 2019 SEA Games Gold Medalist and Southeast Asia’s Triathlon King – John Chicano
Southeast Asia’s best male triathlete John Leerams Chicano.
Since he first participated in the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2017, John Leerams Chicano raked in notable honors for the Philippines and took his career in the multisport of triathlon (swim-bike-run) even higher.
Today, Chicano is one of the highest-ranking members of the National Team of triathlon and this past December, he won the gold medal in the men’s triathlon event of the 2019 SEA Games that was held at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (so close to his native Olongapo City). With that big victory, he established himself as Southeast Asia’s newest triathlon king replacing Nikko Huelgas (2015 and 2017 SEA Games gold medalist). It was also the big reward for the long road (about a decade) he literally took engaging in multisport events like triathlon and duathlon.
Recently I met Chicano and had a nice chat with him.
For you, my readers, here is a look at 3-time SEA Games medalist John Chicano.
A quick look at his background
John Chicano has been engaging in triathlon for many years now and has been a member of the Philippine team along the way. He represented the country in many events of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP), most notably the annual Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT). He also raced in other triathlon events organized by Bike King Philippines and other race organizers. On livelihood, he previously worked as a bike mechanic as well as a janitor. He now has his own family to support.
When it comes to triathlon at the SEA Games, he made his debut in the 2017 edition of the games held in Malaysia and won the silver medal in the individual men’s triathlon event next to teammate Nikko Huelgas who won the gold medal back then (note: Huelgas first won the SEA Games gold in 2015). His achievement was recognized by the media and the national government which in turn rewarded him (along with all other medalists) with cash incentives in accordance to Republic Act Number 10699.
Winning the SEA Games gold medal at Subic Bay
On the early morning of December 1, 2019, the SEA Games men’s triathlon event started with Chicano and Cebu-based teammate Andrew Kim Remolino representing the nation. After going through the pressure and enduring the pain of the 1.5 kilometer swim – 40 Km bike – 10 Km run event, Chicano won the gold medal in 1 hour, 53 minutes and 26 seconds. Remolino followed with 1:55:03 to win the silver medal, completing the 1-2 punch for the Philippines.
“We were confident in the sense that we prepared well for the SEA Games which includes three months of training at Clark,” Chicano said. “While I was confident to win, there were a few moments of uncertainty since the big competition (men’s triathlon) could turn out to be unpredictable.”
During the December 1 event, Chicano and Remolino raced together during the 40-kilometer bike leg and on the spot they came up with a new strategy to win gold and silver. At that particular stage, another foreign competitor biked near them. Earlier in the swim leg, Remolino was the first to emerge from the sea while Chicano was 4th (an Indonesian and a Singaporean were slightly ahead of him). During the 10-kilometer run leg, Chicano and Remolino built up their lead as a country and, ultimately, he gave it his all to win the gold, literally upgrading from silver (2017 SEA Games). The victory was witnessed by the top sports officials, the coaches, the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP), the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority officials, the spectators, corporate sponsors and, of course, Chicano’s family.
“It was a very happy moment for me to cross the finish line for the gold medal. I even felt like crying for happiness back then,” Chicano recalled the very moment he won the gold and became Southeast Asia’s best. “This was the big payback for almost ten years of effort racing in triathlon and growing to be stronger and more competitive. My triathlon effort and build-up started in 2010, preceded by biking in 2009. The feeling was so tremendous and happy.”
Chicano and teammate Andrew Kim Remolino on the sports section of the December 2, 2019 edition of Business Mirror.
During the medal awarding ceremony, Chicano thought deeply about his SEA Games achievement and that he could bring further honors to the nation (plus his locality) in the years to come. The day after that, Chicano and teammates Remolino, Kim Mangrobang and Kim Kilgroe got tremendous spotlight together in the national newspapers which was expected considering their victorious achievements.
Chicano (3rd from right) with his teammates who won medals in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games – (from L to R) Claire Adorna, Kim Kilgroe, Kim Mangrobang, Andrew Kim Remolino and Fer Casares. (photo source – Kim Mangrobang Facebook page)
His SEA Games gold medal achievement not only raked in praise from many, financial rewards also came in from the national government (RA 10699), the City Government of Olongapo, corporate sponsors and other generous parties. Chicano even got to visit the Philippine Senate and met with Senator Richard Gordon.
Chicano and Kim Mangrobang on the front page of the December 2, 2019 edition of the Manila Times.
Chicano with coach Melvin Fausto and Senator Richard Gordon. (photo source – Subic Bay Community Center Facebook page)
As of this writing, Chicano is strongly focused on triathlon and he believes that what he achieved so far as a triathlete, and also as Southeast Asia’s best male triathlete, will be remembered for a long time and perhaps inspire the next generation of Filipinos to excel in sports.
When it comes to the near future, Chicano will go to Australia very soon to attend the Annual General Meeting and Awards Night of the FilOz Triathlon Club as their Guest Speaker. After that, he will undergo triathlon training for a few more weeks there in Australia.
From this point on, I recommend you all to take a close look at Chicano in triathlon events both local and overseas. He is, after all, Southeast Asia’s reigning triathlon king.
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenoris still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from Kim Mangrobang by means of an interview and research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Meet Southeast Asia’s Reigning Triathlon Queen – Kim Mangrobang!
4-time Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) medalist and reigning triathlon queen of Southeast Asia Kim Mangrobang. (photo taken at Akrotiri, Commercenter, Muntinlupa City)
When triathlon (swim-bike-run) made its debut in the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in late 2005 at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone here in the Philippines, Marion Kim Mangrobang was still a teenager who witnessed the event as a spectator. Already a junior-level member of the Philippine triathlon team, she naturally cheered for her older teammates Ani De Leon and Sandra Araullo who represented the nation in the first-ever SEA Games triathlon event for women.
Fast forward to December 1, 2019, Mangrobang represented the Philippines in the 2019 SEA Games individual women’s triathlon event (her 3rd SEA Games since 2015) which was also held at Subic Bay and, more notably, won the gold medal in front of a large cheering crowd (with coach Ani De Leon – Brown, the other Philippine team coaches, officials of the Philippine Sports Commission, PHISGOC and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority plus other important personalities watching near the finish line) followed by her teammate Kim Kilgroe who copped the silver.
The winning streak concluded a day later when Mangrobang, 2015 SEA Games gold medalist Claire Adorna, 2019 SEA Games gold medalist John Chicano and Fer Casares combined their efforts to win the gold medal in the Triathlon Team Mixed Relay event which was held also there in Subic Bay. For the country, she won two 2019 SEA Games gold medals (note: the Philippines as a whole won 149 gold medals in the SEA Games it hosted) and got rewarded for it in return by the national government and by corporate sponsors.
The entire Philippines got delighted on the morning of December 1, 2019 at Subic Bay when Kim Mangrobang successfully defended her title as Southeast Asia’s best female triathlete by winning the 2019 SEA Games individual women’s triathlon gold medal. In previous SEA Games, she won the silver medal in 2015 and her first gold medal in 2017. (photo source – Kim Mangrobang Facebook page)
Mangrobang with her 2019 SEA Games individual women’s triathlon gold medal and the mascot. (photo source – Kim Mangrobang Facebook page)
Mangrobang with teammate John Chicano and other Philippine team athletes on the cover of the December 2, 2019 edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. (photo source – Triathlon Association of the Philippines Facebook page)
As far as the SEA Games records go, Mangrobang won a total of four medals since her debut in 2015, specifically 3 gold medals (the first gold won in 2017) and 1 silver medal (won in 2015). In retrospect, her gold medal victory at Subic Bay was a successful defense of her gold medal achievement in the 2017 SEA Games which essentially established her as Southeast Asia’s reigning triathlon queen.
That being said, I am very happy to present to you my feature interview of Kim Mangrobang which starts right now.
Kim Mangrobang’s background
Mangrobang was born in Sta. Mesa, Manila, in 1991 to parents Richard (an engineer) and Dine (a manpower firm executive). Since the age of four, her family has been living in Santa Rosa, Laguna which is now a progressing city south of Metro Manila.
Mangrobang got into the sport of swimming as a result of her parents’ encouragement for her when she was little. She found sports to be an enjoyable pastime.
“As with most other parents, my mom and dad encouraged me to get into sports during the summer season when I was young. So I joined a swim team and along the way I felt I was playing given the aquatic aspect of swimming,” she recalled. “My teammates and I had fun with swimming and later I realized that swimming would be a serious form of competition.”
At the age of nine, she started swimming and eventually it became a daily part of her life similar with her teammates. As an elementary student, she continued swimming and eventually she became a varsity swimmer in her high school days (with the goal of making it in the Palarong Pambansa) and participated in many swimming competitions (between local sports clubs).
Being a member of her school’s swim team and of a separate swim club, Mangrobang learned a lot about competitive swimming related to national sports and inter-club competition. Along the way, she had to deal with a certain disadvantage of hers – her height.
“I really was a short girl back then. When I was twelve, my swimming coach noticed my height disadvantage and he figured out that it would be more helpful if I would try out with the Philippine team of triathlon,” she said.
That coach turned out to be none other than Abelardo “Abet” Alon-Alon who was a former national champion in triathlon as well as a former national team coach in the said sport. Historically, Alon-Alon was a standout in Philippine triathlon’s early years back in the 1990s His suggestion to Mangrobang to get into triathlon and into Philippine multisport turned out to be a blessing for her and the nation.
She immediately took part in a tryout (for the Philippine triathlon team) which was composed of a 1.5 kilometer swim and 3-kilometer run. Her swim time was 27 minutes and 36 seconds while she timed around 12 minutes in the run. She qualified and her membership with the Philippine triathlon team started on the junior (youth) level.
“That was the start of my new journey in sports and I realized that there were better opportunities in triathlon,” she recalled.
Triathlon career and rise in prominence
Gradually Kim Mangrobang redeveloped herself athletically under the guidance of triathlon coaches like Raul Cuevas (now heading race organizer Bike King Philippines), Peter Gonzales and Abet Alon-Alon to name a few. As she maintained her swimming, she learned to bike and run gaining valuable skills and experience. Before participating in triathlon, she engaged in aquathlon (swim-run) events.
At age thirteen, she took part in a Fit-and-Tri event for youth finishing 6th overall in a short distance aquathlon race held in Ayala Alabang Village. She finished 2nd to the last back then as she was still getting oriented. She went on to join a lot more aquathlon events later.
Her first-ever triathlon performance happened in another Fit-and-Tri event some time later. In that race, she finished 6th place. In further triathlon events, she gradually made her way up until reaching 1st place.
“To the best of my memory, I finished at around 4th place overall during the first year of competing in the Fit-and-Tri series. In the following year, I reached 1st place overall. Emerging 1st became normal for me in the years that followed, until I reached the age of fifteen or sixteen,” she recalled.
Kim Mangrobang as a teenager way back in 2005. (photo contributed by Mangrobang)
In 2006, Mangrobang joined the Junior Elite race of the Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT) held at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and finished 2nd. That event was her first time to compete with foreign triathletes her age and instead of feeling intimidated, she performed well and still enjoyed the experience. Her value as a member of the Philippine team grew more. That same year, she raced in the Asian Duathlon Championships held in Clark finishing 4th in the Junior Women contest.
At age seventeen, Mangrobang tested herself in a Standard Distance (1.5 Km swim – 40 Km bike – 10 Km run) event during the 2008 Subic Bay ASTC Long Distance Triathlon event and won the bronze. Ahead of her were LC Langit (gold) and Monica Torres (silver).
In May 2009, Mangrobang finished 10th in the Elite Women contest of that year’s SUBIT clocking 2 hours, 32 minutes and 45 seconds (2:32:45). In the years that followed, she kept on representing the Philippines in the Elite Women contests of not only SUBIT but also in other triathlon events of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) that were held around the world. No matter how tough the field of competition was, the Santa Rosa triathlete kept focusing and persevering on doing her best and improving herself.
In the 2016 edition of SUBIT (2016 Subic Bay NTT ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup) held at Subic Bay, Mangrobang emerged as the Elite Women champion followed by her teammate Kim Kilgroe and Hong Kong’s Kate Rutherford. She timed 2:10:40 and won several ITU qualifying points in return. For the Philippines, it was a rare gold medal victory in the history of SUBIT which has often been dominated by foreign triathletes. The said victory was also proof that Mangrobang’s overseas training (under the guidance of Portugal-based coach Sergio Santos) paid off nicely. To this day, her training in Portugal continues.
Mangrobang (rightmost) with (from L to R) then Triathlon Association of the Philippines Secretary General Tom Carrasco, Chinese Taipei’s Chang Ting Ting and her teammate Kim Kilgroe during the awarding ceremony of the 2016 edition of the Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT). Mangrobang emerged as the event’s Elite Women’s champion. (photo source – Triathlon Association of the Philippines Facebook page)
Mangrobang also achieved great honor for the nation in non-triathlon events. She emerged as the women’s champion in the Lisbon Meia-Maratona Dos Descombrimentos Half Marathon that was held on December 6, 2015 in Portugal. Her victorious performance saw her timing 1:22:40 outclassing 2nd placer Ceu Nunes (1:26:55) and 3rd placer Sofia Mateiro (1:27:34). That particular sports event was noted to be a programmed race to test the fitness of triathletes. It was also a rarity that Filipinos get to race in the said event, which made Mangrobang’s victory even more outstanding.
Triathlon at the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games)
As mentioned earlier, in the history of the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), triathlon made its debut in the 2005 edition of the games specifically in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (already well established as the nation’s triathlon hot spot and favorite destination of local triathletes). Back then, Kim Mangrobang was 14-years-old and a junior member of the Philippine team. How she witnessed triathlon’s SEA Games debut was indeed interesting.
“I was still in high school back then. Me and my family left Santa Rosa at dawn to go to Subic Bay to watch the SEA Games triathlon. I had to take a leave of absence from school since that was a school day and I had to go back to school the very next day,” Mangrobang recalled. “When we arrived, there was already a huge crowd of spectators around the venue. The excitement was really high even before the race started.”
Mangrobang recalled that as a spectator, she felt nervous for the nation and what was at stake just as the individual participants were formally introduced during the pre-race ceremony. Like many others, she could only stand and watch the race unfold from behind the barricades (used for crowd control) and experience bouts of anxiety and nervousness. She cheered for her older teammates Sandra Araullo and Ani de Leon. Araullo went on to win the silver medal while De Leon (now a coach) finished 4th.
“I was really nervous back then as a spectator. Then I said to myself, ‘how much more nervous I would be if I was the one racing for the Philippines in the SEA Games,’” she stated. She added that she noticed the added pressure of participating and literally carrying the nation and the local people’s hope that victory would be achieved. She imagined herself in the future being in such a high-stakes situation.
After almost ten years later, Kim Mangrobang made her debut in the SEA Games (2015) in Singapore as a triathlete. Her teammate back then was Claire Adorna.
“Coaches of TRAP selected who were the best to represent our country in the SEA Games with results required,” Mangrobang recalled. “Based on the results of the time, they saw that me and Claire were the best and we were selected for the games. There were no qualifying races back then, which is different compared to today.”
In the 2015 SEA Games individual women’s triathlon event, Claire Adorna and Mangrobang worked together with a strategy to help the former gain a lead early in the event. Adorna raced with a foot injury back then and the team’s focus was to help her (and the nation) build up a good lead in both the swim and bike legs of the race, and ensure victory even if her injury would slow her down in the 10-kilometer run leg. The strategy was a success for the Philippines as the injured Adorna won the gold medal and Mangrobang captured the silver medal. Their respective times were 2:13:08 and 2:14:26. The bronze medal went to Thailand’s Arunsiri Sanruthai who was more than seven minutes behind Mangrobang.
Mangrobang and Claire Adorna on the front page of the June 7, 2015 edition of the Philippine Star. She captured the silver medal while Adorna got the gold medal.(photo source – Triathlon Association of the Philippines Facebook page)
Two years later, the SEA Games triathlon events were held in Malaysia. In the individual women’s triathlon contest, Mangrobang won the SEA Games gold medal timing 2:11:14 while her teammate Adorna won the silver medal in 2:18:58. Literally speaking, the two ladies switched places and ultimately helped the Philippines which finished the games with 24 gold medals grand total. That was also the start of Mangrobang’s reign as Southeast Asia’s triathlon queen.
“During the build-up heading to the SEA Games of 2017, there was anxiety and pressure among us teammates mainly because expectations for us to repeat success were so high as a result of what we achieved in the previous SEA Games,” she stated.
Mangrobang and her teammate Nikko Huelgas on the front page of the August 22, 2017 edition of the Manila Bulletin. This marked her first time to win the SEA Games gold medal. (photo source – Triathlon Association of the Philippines Facebook page)
To put things in perspective, the Philippines not only repeated its success in the 2015 SEA Games, they exceeded it by having twin gold-and-silver medal victories in both the individual men’s and individual women’s triathlon events in the 2017 edition of the games. On the men’s race, Nikko Huelgas won his 2nd consecutive gold medal while John Chicano added more punch to the victory by grabbing the silver medal. For Mangrobang, that particular event marked her first time to win the SEA Games gold medal.
“It was a very happy moment for me personally because all the efforts and training invested paid off in the best way possible,” Mangrobang recalled her feeling of winning her first gold medal. “A lot of relief followed as all the pressure and nervousness accumulated just vanished and got replaced with the thrill of victory. Naturally, I became very thankful.”
With regards to the 2019 SEA Games, Mangrobang spent a great deal of her time overseas. As she kept training in Portugal (plus a month of training in Mexico), she represented the country in many sports events that were held in other parts of the world for the first eleven months of 2019. As such, she did not spend much time in the Philippines.
Regardless, she won the gold medal of the individual women’s triathlon once more in the latest SEA Games marking her successful defense of her standing as Southeast Asia’s triathlon queen. Her time was 2:02:00. The December 1, 2019 victory at Subic Bay also marked the full turn of life for Mangrobang who went from spectator in the 2005 SEA Games triathlon into Southeast Asia’s best female triathlete fourteen years later at the same freeport.
The Sta. Rosa, Laguna-based triathlete making a U-turn during the 40-kilometer bike leg of the 2019 SEA Games individual women’s triathlon event at Subic Bay. (photo source – Kim Mangrobang Facebook page)
Mangrobang and Chicano on the front page of the December 2, 2019 edition of the Manila Bulletin. (photo source – Triathlon Association of the Philippines Facebook page)
After winning the two 2019 SEA Games gold medals (individual women and mixed team relay), Mangrobang and her medalist teammates were greeted by lots of local spectators who also expressed their gratitude to them.
“Getting praised and being thanked a lot in return for the victory is normal. It is also a very humbling feeling to see so many spectators rooting for us national athletes to win. Through that experience, I realized there is truth to the 2019 SEA Games tagline of ‘We Win As One,’” she stated.
Mangrobang and her winning teammates (John Chicano, Kim Kilgroe, Kim Remolino, Claire Adorna and Fer Casares) plus members of the coaching staff were nicely rewarded by the national government through Republic Act Number 10699. They formally received their cash incentives in a special ceremony held at Malacanang Palace in the presence of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“The President jokingly said I resembled a certain past classmate of his from his days as a Grade 5 student,” Mangrobang said recalling her short chat with Duterte as she had her photo session with him at Malacanang. It was her 2nd time to be with the President.
Mangrobang with her teammates and fellow 2019 SEA Games medalists (from L to R) Claire Adorna, Kim Kilgroe, John Chicano, Andrew Kim Remolino and Fer Casares. (photo source – Kim Mangrobang Facebook page)
Southeast Asia’s triathlon queen with President Rodrigo Duterte. (photo source – Kim Mangrobang Facebook page, photo care of Presidential Communications)
The post-SEA Games buzz did not stop with Duterte. Apart from meeting corporate sponsors and having sessions with some members of the press, Mangrobang was acknowledged by the respective local government units (LGUs) of Santa Rosa in Laguna and Bauan in Batangas through social media.
Mangrobang right in the middle of the Santa Rosa-based 2019 SEA Games medalists. (photo source – City Government of Santa Rosa, Laguna Facebook page)
A congratulatory message from the authorities in Bauan, Batangas. (photo source – Bauan MIO Facebook page)
Bauan claimed Mangrobang as their own since her mother is a native there. After accepting their invitation, she attended the flag raising ceremony at Bauan and was presented by the LGU officials to the locals. They gave her a certificate of recognition. Mangrobang also attended another flag raising ceremony with the Provincial Government of Batangas (headed by Governor DoDo Mandanas) held in Batangas City.
Aiming High for 2020 Tokyo Olympics
As of now, Kim Mangrobang is aiming to get qualified to represent the Philippines in the individual women’s triathlon event of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. With the support of San Miguel Corporation, Nike, Specialized, Oakley, Garmin and the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) and the guidance of coach Sergio Santos, she is now in full training in Portugal and eventually she will be joining several triathlon events (recognized by the ITU) that serve as qualifying races for the Olympics.
According to Mangrobang, there will only be 55 slots for the Tokyo Olympic Games individual women’s triathlon event. The qualifying period will end this coming May and subsequently the final lineup of triathletes racing in the Olympics will be announced.
“I’m very focused now on getting into the Olympics and I’m using whatever energy I have for it,” Mangrobang declared.
Message to the Readers
“When I race, I realize that it is a big responsibility because I become an inspiration to other people and I hope that what I achieved will inspire others to engage in the active lifestyle as that is important. I also hope that once they get into triathlon, they will learn to work hard and train smart.”
Mangrobang and myself at Akrotiri, Commercenter, Alabang.
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenoris still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
Note: My special thanks to Akrotiri restaurant located at Commercenter, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa City. Akrotiri really has a nice place (which was great for this feature interview) as well as a fine selection of food and beverages. Those of you who are reading this, I highly recommend Akrotiri.
Author Carlo Carrasco 