Cambodia, the nation that will be hosting the 32nd edition of the Southeast Asian Games (also referred to as SEA Games and Cambodia 2023, click here and here), is aiming to attract between 3 million to 4 million foreign tourists for the year 2023 and improve over what was achieved in 2022, according to Khmer Times news report. For the year 2022, Cambodia attracted 2.28 million foreign tourists while the Philippines and Israel attracted 2.65 million and 2.675 million foreign tourists respectively.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Khmer Times news report. Some parts in boldface…
Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his hope that between three and four million foreign tourists will visit Cambodia this year.
At a get-together with the 1,049 grade A students of the 2021-2022 academic year held here at Chroy Changvar International Convention and Exhibition Centre this morning, Hun Sen said two major events this year, including the Angkor Sankranta in April and the SEA Games-ASEAN Para Games in May and June, will attract more foreign visitors to the country.
“This year, we hope to welcome the return of foreign tourists, from three to four millions of them,” he underlined.
At the same time, Prime Minister Hun Sen also called on all Cambodians overseas to visit their home country, particularly during these two upcoming big events.
According to the Ministry of Tourism’s statistics, Cambodia welcomed 2.28 million foreign visitors last year, a sharp rise by 1,059 percent compared to 2021.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this new development? Have you ever visited Cambodia for tourism? If you did, how would you rate the quality of their tourist spots and how hospitable are Cambodia’s tourism industry workers?
Filipino-Spanish Fernando Jose Casares displayed his awesome form to claim victory in the sprint men’s elite category of the National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) Series at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority on Sunday.
Casares, born in Madrid to a Spanish father and a Filipino mother, clocked 57 minutes and 16 seconds to prevail over Cebu City’s Matthew Justine Hermosa (57:34) and Andrew Kim Remolino (59:12) in the swim (750m)-bike (20km)-run (5km) event.
Casares earned the standard distance swim (1.5km)-bike (40km)-run(10km) gold medal at the 2022 Vietnam SEA Games. He pocketed the mixed relay gold medal with Chicano, Kim Mangrobang and Claire Adorna at the 2019 Manila SEA Games.
Cebu City’s Raven Faith Alcoseba topped the women’s category in 1:04:36, beating Erika Nicole Burgos (1:08:03) and Karen Manayon (1:08:25).
Alcoseba, who hails from Talisay City, also won the sprint gold medal the duathlon competition in New Clark City last year.
Meanwhile, Dayshaun Ramos and Kira Ellis were crowned champions in the junior elite division of the tournament organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) headed by Tom Carrasco Jr.
Ramos won the men’s category in 1:01.56 while Akio Habana (1:03:43) and Aidanreed Mercado (1:03:51) finished second and third, respectively.
In the women’s category, Ellis posted 1:05:51 to grab the gold medal. Gene Heart Quiambao (1:06:15) took the silver medal and Lady Samantha Jhunace Corpuz (1:07:18) settled for the bronze medal.
“This tournament is part of our national athletes’ preparation for the Cambodia SEA Games in May,” Carrasco said after the awarding ceremony.
Note: The above press release and details were sourced from the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP). Some parts were edited for this website.
Calling all who love the multisport dynamics of triathlon as well as those who love the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as the premier sports tourism destination of the country – the online registration for the NTT ASTC Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) 2023 is ongoing right now and you can start registering yourselves (note: RaceYa.fit account needed). This year’s edition of the SuBIT is set to happen on April 22 and 23, 2023 to be organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) in partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and I Love Fun-tastic Subic Bay, and presented by NTT and Asia Triathlon.
The NTT ASTC Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) 2023 is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Standard Insurance and Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Inc.
To put things in perspective, posted below are some important race details as published by RaceYa.fit’s page of the event.
The official race logo.
REGISTRATION FEES
Early Bird: (January 16 – 31,2023)
Standard Distance: Php 6,000/US$130.00 + online reg fees
To those who will really be traveling to Subic Bay soon, there are notable places where you can have good meals and beverages at: Gourmet Garage Subic and Xtreme Xpresso Café. Read my feature articles of them.
This year marks Cambodia’s hosting of the 32nd edition of the Southeast Asian Games (also referred to as SEA Games, 32nd SEA Games and Cambodia 2023). The said regional games composed of multiple sports competitions will officially happen this coming May and already a tough battle for the Philippines has been seen, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA article. Some parts in boldface…
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino on Tuesday sees tough battle ahead for the Philippine contingent as Cambodia hosts the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in less than four months.
“Frankly, kinakabahan ako because of the formula na ginawa ng host country (Frankly, I’m worried because of the formula made by the host country),” said Tolentino during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Pasay City.
“Medyo mabigat ang ginawa (It’s a bit abrupt),” Tolentino added, referring to Cambodia’s decision to include events that are practically alien to the other countries and exclude events where Cambodians have slim chances of winning.
For a country of less than 17 million people, Cambodia has lined up 608 events in 49 sports, far bigger than the 530 events in 56 sports in the Manila edition in 2019 and the 526 events in 40 sports in Hanoi last year.
But it does not mean that the Philippines, this early, is giving up the fight for the biennial event scheduled from May 5 to 17.
Tolentino said the POC will still make sure that the Philippines will be represented well in as many events in Cambodia and hope to match or improve on its fourth-place finish in Hanoi in May 2022.
“Salihan natin lahat ng events sa Cambodia (We will join all events in Cambodia),” he said during the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation (SMC), MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, POC, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
“Kailangan natin masalihan lahat (We need to compete in all events). We will give them a good fight,” added Tolentino, who is also counting on newly-appointed Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairperson Dicky Bachmann as the national athletes gear up for the Cambodia event.
“Buti na lang pareho kami hands-on (Bachmann) (The good thing is we are both hands-on),” said the POC chief and president of PhilCycling.
Cambodia finished at No. 8 in the last SEA Games edition, winning nine gold medals along with 13 silver and 41 bronzes. Providing the golds for the country were vovinam with three and petanque with two, then kickboxing, wrestling and taekwondo with one each.
Tolentino said it will be quite difficult for Cambodia to win the overall title this year.
“Based on their formula hindi kaya mag-first. Pero sasaksak sa taas yun whether second, third or fourth. So baka battle for fourth na naman. Tingnan natin (Based on their formula, they cannot get first place. But they will surge within the top whether second, third or fourth. So it might be battle for fourth again. Let’s see),” Tolentino said.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you believe that the Philippines could match its 31st SEA Games (hosted by Vietnam) overall medal finish in this year’s SEA Games in Cambodia? If you have been to Cambodia, what is their country like and how is their climate?
Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the 1st Mayor Ruffy Biazon Swim Cup was held at the Muntinlupa Aquatic Center and it easily attracted over a thousand swimmers who engaged in varied contests, according to a Manila Standard news report. The big reception of the event – which was attended by Mayor Ruffy Biazon, Congressman Jaime Fresnedi and a lot of other notable officials – could be the first of many signs that Muntinlupa City will emerge as a hot spot for swimming and other aquatic events as far as Philippine sports development is concerned. The next aquatic event in Muntinlupa will happen a few days from now.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Standard news report. Some parts in boldface…
A record number of 1,200 swimmers participated in the 1st Mayor Ruffy Biazon Swim Cup on Saturday at the newly built Muntinlupa Aquatic Center in Muntinlupa City.
The organizing Swim League Philippines, headed by president Fred Ancheta, said the listup has already reached the maximum number of entries (700) as early as last week, but due to insistent public demand from swim clubs and organizations and after consultation with the city administration, the registration was extended further.
Equipped with modern equipment under FINA world standards, the Muntinlupa Aquatic Center is expected to be the center of swimming competitions from clubs based in the South.
This early, Ancheta said the Office of the Mayor is expected to sign a memorandum of agreement to make the center the official home of the SLP swimmers and its affiliated clubs and organizations.
“We’re grateful with Mayor Ruffy Biazon for hosting this event. With the enthusiasm from swimmers, coaches and parents to be part of this historic opening of the world-class swimming pool in Muntinlupa, the number of participants reached more than what we expected,” said Ancheta.
“Sa sobrang tuwa ni Mayor Ruffy Biazon he will host another event. Those who wish to compete at the Muntinlupa Aquatic Center, you may join The Holiday Swim Cup on December 10, 2022,” added Ancheta.
A nice shot from the event. (photo credit: Muntinlupa PIO)
MOST VALUABLE SWIMMER AWARDEES
Highest FINA Points (Boys)
🏅 Kyle Bagusto
🏅 Marcus Johannes De Kam
🏅 Amber Araño
🏅 Wyatt Santos
🏅 John Patrick Leo Hondrade
🏅 Julian Louwers De Kam
🏅 Kristoff David
🏅 Emerson Matienzo
🏅 Joaquin Sto. Domingo
🏅 Chris Jimuel Mallari
🏆 MOST VALUABLE SWIMMER AWARDEES
Highest FINA Points (Girls)
🏅 Riannah Chantelle Coleman
🏅 Clara Yzabela Delos Santos
🏅 Ucary Phearl Sevilla
🏅 Shinloah Yve San Diego
🏅 Alyssa Cabatian
🏅 Daniella Anne Gregorio
🏅 Michaela Trinidad
🏅 Rafee Balbuena
🏅 Darcy Aliyah Tongos
🏅 Renee Margaret Diaz
Team Standing:
Class ABC
🏆 Champion, Poseidon Swimming Team
🏆 First Runner-up, Eastern Aquatics Swimming Team
🏆 Second Runner-up, Dax Swim Team
🏆 Third Runner-up, Sharpeedo Swim Team
🏆 Fourth Runner-up, Pasig Rave Barracudas Swim Team
🏆 Fifth Runner-up, De La Salle University-Dasmariñas
🏆 Sixth Runner-up, Bosay Resort Aquatic Club
Class D
🏆 Champion, Swim RX Swim Team
🏆 First Runner-up, San Pablo Titans Swim Club
🏆 Second Runner-up, Aqua Athlete Swim Club
🏆 Third Runner-up, Poseidon Swimming Team
🏆 Fourth Runner-up, Mako Sharks Swim Team
🏆 Fifth Runner-up, Pontefino Razorback Swim Team
🏆 Sixth Runner-up, Body and Mind Swim Club
“I would like to congratulate the City of Muntinlupa, for this amazing facility na first time in Metro Manila that we have this kind of facility, and the hardworking people behind this world-class facility. And I hope na it will really help the grassroots swimming program in our country to help boost the grassroot development of our swimmers and athletes,” Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon stated via the City Government’s December 5, 2022 Facebook page post.
Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon delivered his remarks. (photo credit: Muntinlupa PIO)
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this recent development? Are you excited about the prospects of the city becoming a major destination for aquatic and swimming events? Have you visited the Muntinlupa Aquatic Center already? If you are organizing a triathlon club, would you consider the Muntinlupa Aquatic Center as a venue for your training?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
For the newcomers reading this, the event organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), HOKA, Filinvest New Clark City, Standard Insurance, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines (ACIP), Fissan and Fitbar with Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), New Clark City and the local government of Capas, Tarlac as the venue partners, attracted hundreds of registered participants locally as well as some from overseas. It is also part of the selection process of choosing athletes who will compete in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia (for references, click here and here). Casares and Alcoseba, who are members of the national team, are among the top triathletes of Southeast Asia. Casares is the SEA Games gold medalist in men’s triathlon and Alcoseba the SEA Games bronze medalist in women’s triathlon.
To put things into perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…
Filipino-Spanish Fernando Jose Casares lived up to expectations after ruling the sprint distance men’s elite category of the 2022 National Duathlon Championships at the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac on Sunday.
Born in Madrid to a Spanish father and a Filipino mother, the 2021 Vietnam SEA Games gold medalist Casares finished the 5,000(run)-20,000-(bike)-2.500(run) race in 58 minutes and 3 seconds to beat fellow national athlete John Chicano Leerams of Olongapo City (58.09) and promising duathlete Maynard Pecson of Baguio City (58.13).
“I’m glad I had a good performance here,” said the 26-year-old Casares, whose mother is from Valenzuela City. He got his dual citizenship in 2018.
Casares had competed at the World Games in Alabama, USA last July. He also won the mixed relay gold medal with Chicano, Kim Mangrobang, Clair Adorna at the 2019 Manila SEA Games.
In the women’s category, Cebuana Raven Faith Alcoseba clocked 1 hour, 6 minutes and 32 seconds to claim the gold medal.
“The course was challenging, I’m happy to win,” said the 20-year-old civil engineering student from De La Salle University. She debuted in the 2021 Vietnam SEA Games with a bronze medal in triathlon.
The 5-foot-2 Alcoseba, who hails from Talisay in Cebu, defeated Singaporean Louisa Middleditch (1:07.10) and Merry Joy Trupa of Tarlac City (1:08.50).
Matthew Justine Hermosa, also a native of Talisay, registered 1:01.46 to pocket the gold medal in the junior elite men’s category of the tournament organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) headed by Tom Carrasco Jr.
Irienold Reig Jr. of Batasan Hills in Quezon City took the silver medal with a time of 1:02.40 while Aidan Reed Mercado, a grade 12 student from Muntinlupa National High School, settled for the bronze medal with a time of 1:03.24.
The top three winners in the junior women’s elite category were Jena Valdez (1:11.35), Lady Samantha Jhunace (1:11.39) and Sophia Kyra Capistrano (1:14.49).
Meanwhile, Bases Conversion and Development Authority Senior Vice President for Corporate Services Group Arrey Perez appreciated the feedback from the participants of the race supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
“They are happy that the event was held here. The set up was very nice. The venue was really world-class,” said Perez, who served as mayor of the 2019 SEA Games Athletes Village inside the New Clark City Sports Complex.
The forthcoming 2022 National Duathlon Championships (NDC) will feature the finest Filipino competitors in the run-bike-run event along with a strong foreign participation as the races form part of the selection of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (32nd SEA Games) in Cambodia.
Over 450 duathletes across the country are expected to troop to the New Clark City in Tarlac in time for the December 4 race where they will see action in the Standard Distance races as well as in the Sprint and Super Sprint events along with the best from Singapore and Malaysia.
“The main actions are in the sprint events since the events in the Cambodia SEA Games are all sprints with Singapore and Malaysia sending their best to measure up with our elites,” said TRAP president Tom Carrasco.
The races will be supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), HOKA, Filinvest New Clark City, Standard Insurance, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines (ACIP), Fissan and Fitbar as major sponsors while the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), New Clark City and the local government of Capas, Tarlac are the venue partners.
According to Carrasco, the signature event of the TRAP is the 13-15 age group category (Super Sprint) starring the country’s Youth Olympic Games aspirants and the next generation of duathletes/triathletes in the national team.
“The top Filipino finishers will be in the short list for the SEA Games in Cambodia, but we will also consider the other duathlon events results in 2022,” said Carrasco.
More entries are expected to sign up prior to the races where Pocari Sweat serves as hydration partner and PTV Sports and Radyo Pilipinas 2 as media partners.
A total of 103 team will participate, most of them from 26 cities and provinces in the country and foreign contingents from Australia, Brazil, France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and the United States.
+++++
Note: This is an official press release issued by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP).
For the triathletes and multisport enthusiasts based in the Philippines reading this, the 2023 season opener of the National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) series is all set to happen on January 29, 2023 at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and the good news is that you can register online right now by clicking here.
This sports event is a joint project of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) supported by Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Inc. (ACIP) and Standard Insurance.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt of key race details posted at the event page at RaceYaya.fit
2023 National Age Group Triathlon Subic Leg (part of SEATA Series)
Race Date & Time: 29 January 2023 (Sunday) at 6:00am EventVenue: Start & Finish at The Boardwalk, Subic Bay Freeport
Highlights: • This is part of the Southeast Asian Triathlon Association (SEATA) Series and the 2023 National Triathlon Trials. • A qualifying/selection race for the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, Cambodia. • A talent identification for the Philippine Triathlon Team.
Race Distances:
1. Standard Distance: 1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run (Individual and Team Relay) 2. Sprint Distance: 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run 3. Super Sprint Distance: 500m swim, 13km bike, 2.5km run
Participants’ Categories (Top 3):
Super Sprint Distance:
13-15 Boys & Girls Only
Sprint Distance:
Elite Men
Elite Women
Jr. Elite Men 16-19 y.o.
Jr. Elite Women 16-19 y.o.
Age Group Men and Women: 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50 – over
Standard Distance:
Elite Men
Elite Women
Age Group Men:
18-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40- 44
45-49
50-54
55 & over
Age Group Women:
18-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50 & over
Team Relay (Standard Distance):
All Male
All Female
Mixed Team
Registration fees are set at P3,500/US$62.50 plus processing fee for Super Sprint Distance, P4,000/US72 plus processing fee for Sprint Distance, and P4,500/US$81 plus processing fee for Standard Distance. The entry fees cover the cost of participation, swim cap, timing chip rental, race bib, bike & helmet stickers, finisher’s medal, event shirt and post-race take-away snacks. The fees are non-refundable, non-transferable and non-creditable for future races of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP).
To those who will really be traveling to Subic Bay for the January 29, 2023 triathlon, there are good places where you can have good meals and beverages at – Gourmet Garage Subic and Xtreme Xpresso Café. Read my feature articles of them.
The country’s best duathletes are set to participate in the 2022 National Duathlon Championships (NDC) which will commence on December 4 at New Clark City.
SEA Games medalists Fer Casares, Kim Mangrobang, Andrew Kim Remolino, Raven Alcoseba and John Chicano will lead the national team also composed of Raymund Torio, Ephraim Inigo, Jarwyn Banatao, Joy Trupa, Elaine Quismundo, Moira Erediano, Jena Valdez, Maynard Pecson and John Ciron in their quest for top honors in what is already the first and biggest sporting event of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) held at New Clark City. Distances include the Standard Distance course of 10 Km run – 40 Km bike – 5 Km run as well as a Sprint Distance course of 5Km run – 20 Km bike – 2.5 Km run and a Super Sprint Distance course of 2.5 Km run – 10 Km bike – 2.5 Km run.
The event sponsored by Standard Insurance, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Inc. and POCARI Sweat will serve as part of the selection process for the composition of the national pool members who will compete in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games (2023 SEA Games) in Cambodia. Malaysia for its part, confirmed they will use the NDC for their selection of their squad to the 2023 SEA Games. The race is also part of TRAP’s grassroot program to discover young and potential athletes who can be part of TRAP’s developmental team.
Online registration is still ongoing at RaceYaya.com. Registration fees cover the cost of participation, timing chip rental, race bib, bike & helmet stickers, the finisher’s medal, event shirt and light post-race snack. Previously, the NDC was scheduled for November 27 but was eventually rescheduled for December 4 to give way to another event at Clark.
New Clark City, the premier site of athletics and aquatics in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, will be the hot spot for endurance racing as it hosts the 2022 National Duathlon Championships (NDC) on December 4, 2022. Registration is ongoing at RaceYaya.com
The NDC will take place around New Clark City using its well paved roads. There will be a Standard Distance course of 10 Km run – 40 Km bike – 5 Km run as well as a Sprint Distance course of 5Km run – 20 Km bike – 2.5 Km run and a Super Sprint Distance course of 2.5 Km run – 10 Km bike – 2.5 Km run.
The event organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) with the support of Standard Insurance, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Inc. and POCARI Sweat will serve as part of the selection process for the composition of the national pool duathletes who will compete in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games (2023 SEA Games) in Cambodia. Already the other SEA Games federation have given word that they will make their selection of their respective teams to join this event.
Online registration for the event is ongoing with early bird rates of P3,500 (for Super Sprint Distance and Sprint Distance), P4,000 (Standard Distance) and P7,000 (Standard Distance Team Relay) offered until August 15, 2022. Registration fees cover the cost of participation, timing chip rental, race bib, bike & helmet stickers, the finisher’s medal, event shirt and light post-race snack.
To see the complete details of pre-race and post-race activities and schedules as well as the lists for each wave of participants, visit the 2022 National Duathlon Championships page at RaceYaya.com . A special category of paratriathlon is included in the program.
Author Carlo Carrasco 