Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the City Government celebrated the achievement of a young local swimmer who brought home two bronze medals from a prestigious competition overseas and eventually met with Mayor Imelda Aguilar at City Hall, according to the social media post of the local authorities.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the City Government’s social media post of February 25, 2024. Some parts in boldface…
In a proud moment for Las Piñas, local swimmer James Allen Papango, who clinched bronze medals at the prestigious Asian Open Schools Invitational Aquatics Championships 2024 held in Bangkok, paid a courtesy visit to City Mayor Imelda Aguilar on Thursday, February 22.
James Allen Papango met with Mayor Imelda Aguilar at Las Piñas City Hall. He brought home two bronze medals from a competition overseas. (photo source – Las Piñas PIO)
Papango with Mayor Aguilar. (photo source – Las Piñas PIO)
James Allen Papango, a resident of Las Piñas and a beacon of youthful talent in sports, showcased exceptional prowess in the pool, bringing home bronze medals in both the 100m and 50m backstroke events against a competitive field of swimmers from across Asia. His achievements at the championships have not only placed him on the international swimming map but have also served as a source of inspiration for aspiring athletes in his hometown.
During the courtesy visit, Mayor Aguilar commended Papango for his hard work, dedication, and the honor he brought to Las Piñas.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you delighted to learn that a local resident made big achievements overseas and brought home honors for both the city and the nation?
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
The Cebu-based Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) medalists Andrew Kim Remolino and Raven Fatih Alcoseba outclassed their rivals to win the Sprint Elite titles during the Subic Bay Freeport Zone leg of the 2024 National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) series which was held at the Boardwalk area.
Remolino, who won a silver medal during the 2022 Vietnam SEA Games, won the 750 meter swim – 20 kilometer bike – 5 kilometer run contest in 56 minutes and 56 seconds followed by fellow Cebuano Matthew Justine Hermosa, (56:57) and Joshua Ramos of Baguio Benguet Triathlon (57:31).
“I had a good preparation for this tournament, so I am happy with my performance,” said the 23-year-old Remolino, who placed third behind Fil-Spanish Fernando Casares and Hermosa last year.
Despite his runner-up finish again, Hermosa managed to improve his 57:34 performance last year.
“I’m glad that I was able to set a personal best time. It’s a very close race and I know that Kim is my biggest challenge,” said the 5-foot-11 Hermosa, who together with Kira Ellis, Erika Nicole Burgos and Iñaki Lorbes, won the relay gold medal in aquathlon (500m swim and 2.5km run) at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games.
Hermosa, Dayshaun Ramos, Sam Corpuz and Kira Ellis also attended a 26-day training camp at the Rio Maior Sports Center in Portugal last year.
Alcoseba, a 2022 SEA Games medalist, clocked 1:03:55 to secure her third straight women’s title in the tournament organized by Triathlon Philippines headed by Ramon Marchan in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
Erika Nicole Burgos submitted 1:05:39 to capture the silver medal while Kira Ellis took the bronze medal in 1:06:16.
”I tried to keep a positive attitude throughout the race. I’m happy to win again,” said the 21-year-old Alcoseba, a 3rd year civil engineering student at the De La Salle University.
Meanwhile, Dayshaun Ramos clocked 58 minutes and 44 seconds to pocket the gold medal in the men’s junior elite category. Darell Johnson Bada got the silver medal in 1:00:11 and Juan Miguel Tayag secured the bronze medal in 1:01:14.
Singaporean Janelle Susatra (1:07:17) won the women’s title over Erin Denise Burgos (1:16:33) and Adrian Ungos (1:19:53).
The winners in the standard distance age group were as follows: (Men’s 18-24) – George Vincent Alcido of Baguio Benguet Triathlon (2:16:30), Mark Joshua Perez of Gas Coaching (2:17:35) and Derek Jacob Villa of CM Riptide (2:32:52); (Men’s 25-29) – Edward Macalalad of Royal MNL/UPLB Tranrados (2:05:39), Jigo Libiran of The Usuals (2:33:37) and Carlos Daniel Dungao of Triclark Volvo Triathlon Team (2:36:43); (Men’s 30-34) – Reynante Briones of TRISNDBARRACUDA (2:33:55), Juan Gabriel Peña of Subic Bay Multisports (2:34:26) and Tristan Santos (2:34:59); (Men’s 35-39) – Benjamin Ramirez (2:27:40), Arnold Hoyo-A of Tri Vatan/BRC (2:35:21) and Iggy Hizon of Baguio Benguet Triathlon (2:47:41);
(Men’s 40-44) – Stanley Ng of Baguio Benguet Triathlon (2:28:56), Jason Santos of Team Megawide (2:36:25) and Stephen Corpus of Century Trihard (2:49:49); (Men’s 45-49) – Robert Jonah Rivera (2:49:41), Greg Bravo of Tri Busko (2:53:25) and Mickael Bouffaut of Sante Barley Tri Team (2:57:18); (Men’s 50-54) – Rene Ricardo Tayag of Tri Clark Triathlon Team (2:19:23), Hiroshi Takei of Team Honu (2:25:34) and Alexander Isip of Team Megawide (2:34:00); (Men’s 55-59) – Emmanuel Mondero of Team Megawide (2:37:25), Ronald Allan Ginez of Paynet-Amigo Tri (2:48:11) and Jonathan Tansengco (2:56:37); and (Men’s 60 and over) – Ed Francisco of Polo Tri (2:59:50) and Josef Gueta (3:21:53).
The podium finishers in the women’s division were as follows: (18-34) – Shamira Habie of Tri-Generals (3:04:49) and Daryl Mooney of Team Mooney (3:28:45); (35-49) – Maryfel Aumentado of Cheryauto PH Tri Team (2:48:42) and Kristine Mae Tan of The Next Step Tri (3:10:00); and (50 and over) – Ivy Mendoza of Poveda Tri Team (3:19:55) and Ratna Dimaporo of Tri SND Barracuda (3:25:10).
The NAGT, organized by Triathlon Philippines headed by Ramon Marchan in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), was supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Asian Center for Insulation, Standard Insurance and Gatorade, the official drink.
This past Saturday, triathletes Euan Arrow Ramos and Christy Ann Perez won the Super Sprint category of the National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) tournament which was held at the Boardwalk in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
Ramos from Baguio Benguet Triathlon Team finished the 500 meter swim – 10 kilometer bike – 2 kilometer run race in 33 minutes and 24 seconds in the boys’ 13-15 years old division. Peter Sancho Del Rosario (Getcoach’d Academy) finished 2nd place in 35:19 followed by teammate Diego Jose Dimayuga (35:37).
Christy Ann Perez, a member of Go For Gold TLTG Cebu, registered the best time of 38:06 in the girls division, while teammate Yvaine Osias checked in third (39:00). Maria Zabelle Eugenio (Baguio Benguet Triathlon Team) ranked second (38:43).
Meanwhile, Hans Nathan Samputon (Ormoc Aquatic Edge) bagged the gold medal in the Super Kids boys 11-12 years old (400m swim, 8km bike and 2km run) category with a time of 34:28. Earl Pearson Jr. (Go For Gold TLTG Cebu) took the silver medal in 35.05 while Bricen Lukas Platz (Get Coach’D Academy clocked 38:26 to settle for the bronze medal.
In the girls division, the Top 3 finishers were Lauren Lee Tan of Ormoc Aquatic Edge (34:27), Henia Ethana Go of Gold TLTG Cebu (35:51) and Ava Victoria Banal of Baguio Benget Triathlon (38:48).
The Top 3 finishers in the boys division of the 9-10 years old (200m swim, 6km bike and 1km run) category, were Chris Donovan Lacuna (25:40), Matteo Carino (27:17) and Jon David Julian (27:19), while Pia Gito (28:13) got the gold and Juriel Brooke Julian (31:24) the silver in the girls division.
In the 7-8 years old (100m swim, 2km bike and 800m run), the winners in Ray Vincent Marchan (17:41) and Zavier Prequenza (21:35) in the boys division and Stacey Ailia Aisha (29:13) in the girls division.
Suchen Mooney (13:21) pocketed the gold and Dylan Shyam Bayarong (21:00) secured the silver medal in the boys 6 and under (50m swim, 1km bike and 400m run) category.
The NAGT, organized by Triathlon Philippines headed by Ramon Marchan in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), was supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Asian Centre for Insulation, Standard Insurance and Gatorade, the official drink.
For those of you craving for multisport action within the fantastic Subic Bay Freeport Zone, be aware that the 2024 NTT AST Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) is scheduled to happen on May 4 and 5, 2024, and registration online is ongoing.
A joint project of Triathlon Philippines, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and FUNtastic Subic Bay supported by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Standard Insurance and Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Inc., the event will have a series of contests across the race distances of Standard Distance (1.5 Km swim – 40 Km bike – 10 Km run), Sprint Distance (750 M swim – 20 Km bike – 5Km run) and Super Sprint Distance (500 M swim – 10 Km bike – 2.5 Km run).
The event is presented by NTT and Asia Triathlon.
Registration fees as of this writing are as follows: P6,000 for Standard Distance, P5,500 for Sprint Distance, P4,500 for Super Sprint Distance and P2,750 for Super TriKids category. These rates are in effect for the period of January 1 to 15, 2024.
If you are looking to start the new year with multisport action and competition, then you might be interested to join the 2024 National Age Group Triathlon – Subic Bay race set for January 27 and 28, 2024. Registration for the event is ongoing as of this writing.
Right now, the registration fees are as follows: P8,500 for Standard Distance Team Relay, P5,500 for Standard Distance, P5,000 for Sprint Distance, P4,500 for Super Sprint Distance and P3,500 for Super Trikids.
The Super Trikids and Super Sprint races will start at 6AM on January 27. The Sprint and Standard Distance races will take place on January 28 at 6AM.
The start and finish will be at The Boardwalk within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
The 2024 National Age Group Triathlon – Subic Bay event is a qualifying race for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games and also a part of Triathlon Philippines’ trials and talent identification for the Philippine Triathlon Team. To learn more about the event, visit https://register.raceya.fit/event/nagt-2024
The 2024 National Age Group Triathlon – Subic Bay event is a joint project of Triathlon Philippines (formerly Triathlon Association of the Philippines), the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and FUNtastic Subic Bay. The supporters of the event are the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Inc., Standard Insurance and Gatorade.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA sports news report. Some parts in boldface…
Andrew Kim Remolino of Cebu and Kira Ellis of Laguna emerged champions in the elite category of the National Age Group Aquathlon at the Vermosa Sports Hub in Cavite on Sunday.
Remolino, a silver medalist in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games last May, clocked 16 minutes and 20 seconds in the 500-meter swim/2.5-km run event to beat fellow Cebuanos Matthew Justine Hermosa (16:26) and Joshua Ramos (16:41).
Ellis registered 16:58 to claim the gold medal in the women’s division of the event organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines, headed by Ramon Marchan, and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Cebuanos Raven Faith Alcoseba (17:34) and Karen Manayon (18:02) bagged the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
The top three finishers in the men’s 16-19 category were Daniel Nazarro (17:32), Johnwayne Ybanez (17:50) and AJ Caoile (18:02), while in the women’s division were Diana Victoria Seda-Lomboy (19:30), Juliana Laine Lagula (21:29) and Naomi Felicity (21:55).
In the youth 13-15 category (300-m swim/2.5-km run), Darell Johnson Bada of Olongapo City won the boys’ division in 14 minutes. Peter Sancho Del Rosario was second in 14:01 while Euan Arrow Ramos was third in 14:14.
Eleora Caelle Avanzado topped the girls’ division, crossing the finish line with a time of 16:30 followed by Maria Zabelle Eugenio (16:41) and Yvaine Osias (16:45).
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
Welcome back my readers and sports fans! With the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) aquathlon gold medal won by the Philippines in Cambodia now in the record books, the multisport event of aquathlon has gained importance and recognition among multisport athletes in the nation. That being said, those who want to engage in aquathlon competition can do so by joining the National Age Group Aquathlon 2023 which is set to happen on October 15 at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite. Online registration is ongoing (note: RaceYa.fit account is needed).
The event banner.
Supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Vermosa and RaceYa, and is presented by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP), the National Age Group Aquathlon 2023 has varied age categories and race distances that participants can choose from. For everyone’s reference, posted below are details from the event’s RaceYa page…
RACE DISTANCES S
• STK-Aqua:
6 yrs. old & under – (50m swim/100m run)
7- 8 yrs. old – (100m swim/200m run)
9-10 yrs. old – (200m swim/400m run)
11-12 yrs. old – (300m swim/1.5k run)
• Youth 13-15 yrs. old – (300m swim/2.5k run)
• Age groupers, Elite, Jr. Elite, Para-Tri and Team Relay – (500m swim/2.5k run)
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
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from my personal experiences and observations during the Israel pilgrimage tour I joined. Additional information from the official websites of a mentioned businesses is also used. This is not a sponsored article. 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.
Welcome back, readers and fellow followers of the Lord! This is the 7th chapter of my ongoing series of articles about the holy nation of Israel with recollections about the experiences and discoveries I had during the pilgrimage tour I joined with my local church (hosted by its strategic partner Behold Israel). To see my previous Israel tour articles, click here, here, here, here, here and here.
In this latest edition of my Israel 2023 series, I share with you my observations and captured images about my time at the Dead Sea area of Ein Bokek which has a huge beach and several stores, and hotels/resorts that cater to tourists. Our tour group arrived at a hotel near Ein Bokek Beach on an afternoon and we had a little over twelve hours staying time in the area.
To be very clear, there were no opportunities for me to try floating on the Dead Sea beach nearby due to the time of our arrival at the hotel and the schedule of our pilgrimage tour. After getting settled in my nice hotel bedroom, I managed to spend time at Ein Bokek Beach where I took pictures, observed the place and, for the first time ever, I touched the Dead Sea water and washed my hands before going to the nearby stores. Early the next morning, as I wanted to maximize my opportunities of discovery and learning, I revisited Ein Bokek Beach. For your reference, posted below is my YouTube video that I recorded on the morning and it should give you a glimpse of the area.
Knowing the Dead Sea
To understand the Dead Sea, it is massive body (note: a very large lake) of very salty water currently shared between Israel and Jordan. It is one of the four saltiest water bodies in the world and also the world’s lowest elevation on land estimated at around 430 meters below sea level. The Dead Sea has its very own distinct eco-system and vast sources of minerals which made it a major attraction of visitors for centuries. Apart from being a major travel destination, the Dead Sea is surrounded by places where major biblical events happened and places that have tremendous historical backgrounds.
Some interesting facts about the Dead Sea: The Dead Sea’s salinity level is over 34% and it does not pour out which is one factor why its salinity is high. The arid desert climate causes evaporation which raises the salinity. With the high salinity, no fish could exist in the Dead Sea and certainly no life could evolve in it although certain forms of bacteria and fungus could survive.
Apart from the high salinity, the water of the Dead Sea contains 26 beneficial minerals. The mineral content of both the air and the water of the area is very notable for therapeutic qualities. Even during the time of King Herod (37 to 4 BC) the Dead Sea area became a health resort. As such, the Dead Sea within Israel has many beaches where visitors can spend time not only for enjoyment but also to take advantage of the medicinal and therapeutic benefits by carefully touching the Dead Sea water and rubbing their bodies with black mud sources from the banks. With the high salinity, it is best to avoid having Dead Sea water touch your eyes, touch open wounds and touch newly shaved skin as they will cause pain and irritation. Swallowing Dead Sea water is strongly prohibited as it will negatively affect your body’s internal systems. That being said, anyone who plans to spend time at any Dead Sea beach and touch the water by means of floating – not swimming nor diving – should practice caution.
This is what Ein Bokek and the Dead Sea look like early in the morning as the sun rises.
During ancient times, there were cities located close to the Dead Sea – Zoar, Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim. Over the ages, the Dead Sea water receded and continues to do so gradually. While the Dead Sea today is physically connected with the Jordan River which itself is connected with the Sea of Galilee (AKA Lake Tiberias), its major sources of water since the 1960s are the sulfur springs and waste water along with rare drizzles and flash floods.
As little amounts of water flow in and evaporation under the harsh desert sun continue to happen, there is concern that the Dead Sea could dry up decades from now. With the decline of the Dead Sea’s water level, sinkholes have appeared in some locations which destroyed roads and even resorts.
As to how it got referred to as the Dead Sea, the very salty water makes it impossible for fish and plants to exist in it.
My time at Ein Bokek
Our pilgrimage tour group was booked at the Daniel Dead Sea Hotel in Ein Bokek and conveniently enough, it was located just a short walking distance away from the beach. The hotel room I stayed at was pretty neat and nicely equipped, its bathroom had liquid soap and shampoo with Dead Sea minerals mixed in, and I had a great view of the local area and the Dead Sea. I should state that Daniel Dead Sea Hotel also has a really nice dining area and you can see more of their facilities at https://deadsea.com/explore/where-to-stay/hotels/daniel-dead-sea-hotel/
The view from my Daniel Dead Sea Hotel window showing Ein Bokek beach, roads and other establishments during the day.
This is what the Ein Bokek area looks like at night.
Going back to what I mentioned earlier, the first thing I did after checking in was visiting the Ein Bokek beach and observing around knowing our time with the Dead Sea was limited. Walking further into the beach, I noticed crystal particles of salt on the sand. After doing a last minute check on my hands, I placed my left hand into the Dead Sea water first which you can see in the picture below.
My first time ever to touch the Dead Sea water.
After taking the photo with my smartphone, I put the device down and proceeded to wash both my hands with the very salty beach water and also used some sand and salt crystals on them. Immediately there was this rough and tingling feeling on my two hands but it was not really a problem at all. As soon as I woke up the next morning, I noticed my hands felt smoother. Most likely, the minerals of the Dead Sea water rejuvenated my hands.
Going back to the afternoon I washed my hands with Dead Sea water, I proceeded to the nearest store – the Hordus Shopping Center. Clearly established to cater to visitors as well as consumers looking Dead Sea-related products, I saw a wide section filled with soap bars and cosmetic products that had Dead Sea minerals mixed in which delighted me as our time in the area was limited and I was already looking for unique products to buy and take home. After a careful look at the products offered, I proceeded to buy some bars of Dead Sea Spa-branded soap for personal use and as gifts to my dearest friends. Within Hordus Shopping Center was a spot where customers can buy pizza, sandwiches, coffee and other food or beverages. Since dinner time was arriving and I knew that a buffet for dinner at the hotel was inevitable, it made no sense for me to order food or drinks.
This is what Ein Bokek beach and the Dead Sea looked like as the sun was setting.
This is the Ein Bokek beach parking area. On the background are hotels and other business joints.
This is the Hordus Shopping Center at the Ein Bokek beach area. Lots of nice products, food and drinks inside await visitors.
Another look at the beach on the day we arrived.
Further exploring, I proceeded to another store some meters away from our hotel which offered items similar to what I found at Hordus Shopping Center.
Later that evening at the hotel, I proceeded to the lower level where the huge dining hall and buffet were located at. Upon arriving, I was astounded to see many people around, mostly Jewish people. As it was a Friday evening, it was the night before Shabbat (Shabbat refers to the seventh day of the week for the Jews which is Saturday) and I noticed there were Jewish families and groups of Jewish people celebrating and spending quality time together. There was this atmosphere of happiness and positivity around. This was the first time I ever witnessed the Jewish celebration of the night before Shabbat and I also witnessed how Jewish family members interacted with each other passionately and their dedication to the Heavenly Father. It was a great learning experience for me personally and I thank God for it. In fact, this reminds me of what the Lord God declared long ago in the following holy scriptures below…
GOD told Abram: “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home for a land that I will show you. I’ll make you a great nation and bless you. I’ll make you famous; you’ll be a blessing. I’ll bless those who bless you; those who curse you I’ll curse. All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:1-3 (MSG)
And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel. Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.”
Genesis 35:10-12 (NKJV)
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
Exodus 19:5-6 (NKJV)
Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.’
Exodus 6:6-8 (NKJV)
After getting my meal from the buffet, I finally joined our tour group at a long table that was reserved for us. Right behind me was another long table filled with Jewish guests. As I enjoyed my dinner, I also enjoyed festive atmosphere around us. This was truly a great way to have an evening in the Dead Sea area.
The dinner buffet at Daniel Dead Sea Hotel.
The next morning, I woke up early to read the Holy Bible, prayed to the Lord and revisited the beach nearby before brealfast. It was a cold morning (note: this was February 2023) that was also peaceful. I also witnessed the rise of the sun in the distance which you can see among the images posted below…
The sun rising in the far distance with the light slowly growing over the Dead Sea. I took this on Saturday early morning.
There were a lot of salt crystals at the Dead Sea beach at Ein Bokek.
A shot I took at the beach with people, the Dead Sea water, facilities and the hotels captured together.
Another morning shot I took while walking on the Ein Bokek path.
After spending some time with my tour group companions at the beach, I returned to the hotel for breakfast and proceeded to get myself ready for checking out. Upon checking out at the hotel lobby, I greeted the Jewish man behind the counter “Shabbat Shalom.” By bus, our pilgrimage tour group proceeded to the Qumran site as well as Masada and Ein Gedi. The time at Ein Bokek was not very long but I still am thankful to the Lord for the enjoyment and enlightenment I had there.
The biblical significance of the Dead Sea
The Dead Sea itself has presence in the Holy Bible. Depending on the type of bible translations, the Dead Sea is also referred to as the Salt Sea or the Sea of Salt, the eastern sea and at times by ancient names. Posted below are biblical references for your enlightenment…
All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
Genesis 14:3 (NKJV)
And it shall be in that day that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern [Dead] Sea and half of them to the western [Mediterranean] Sea; in summer and in winter shall it be.
Zechariah 14:8 (AMPC)
Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
Then he said to me, These waters pour out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah (the Jordan Valley) and on into the Dead Sea. And when they shall enter into the sea [the sea of putrid waters], the waters shall be healed and made fresh.
And wherever the double river shall go, every living creature which swarms shall live. And there shall be a very great number of fish, because these waters go there that [the waters of the sea] may be healed and made fresh; and everything shall live wherever the river goes.
The fishermen shall stand on [the banks of the Dead Sea]; from En-gedi even to En-eglaim shall be a place to spread nets; their fish shall be of very many kinds, as the fish of the Great or Mediterranean Sea.
Ezekiel 47:7-10 (AMPC)
As mentioned earlier, there were ancient cities located within the Dead Sea area. Among them are the two most notable for the big events that happened – Soddom and Gommorah. That being said, the destruction of the two mentioned cities happened in close proximity to the Dead Sea and this further makes the area a significant place for today’s pilgrims and explorers to visit and organize trips to discover the places where the destruction happened. To read about the destruction of Soddom and Gommorah, read Genesis 19:1-38 in the Holy Bible.
Conclusion
This is me at Ein Bokek beach with the Dead Sea right behind me in the morning.
I thank the Lord for our stay at Ein Bokek where our tour group got to visit the Dead Sea itself. In my experience, I realized the biblical significance of the famous body of salty and mineral-rich water. As mentioned earlier, having dinner during the night before Shabbat was not just a major learning experience, it was also God’s way of helping me realize the Jewish ways of honoring Him and being families under His watch, love and care. I truly believe in standing united with Israel, loving and blessing the Jewish people and praying for the peace of Jerusalem.
Finally, I encourage you who are about to visit the Holy Land to verify with your tour group leader the inclusion of the Dead Sea in the itinerary of your group tour. Be aware that within the Dead Sea area are Qumran and Masada. Qumran is the very location where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found decades ago while Masada is where the ancient fortress is located at. Also within the area is Ein Gedi, the oasis in Israel where King David himself as a young man stayed at while keeping his distance away from Saul the King.
Welcome back my readers and sports fans! The past weekend at Gamagori, Japan, Philippine triathletes managed to land in the Top 10 categories in all four contests of 2023 Asia Triathlon U23 and Junior Championships. Take note that the U23 and Junior races all had 750 M swim – 20 Km bike – 5 Km run courses.
In the U23 Men event, Cebu-based Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) medalistAndrew Kim Remolino finished 7th place overall with an official time of 59 minutes and 27 seconds. In the U23 Women’s contest, Raven Faith Alcoseba of Cebu Province clocked 1:06:02 finishing 9th place.
Among the Juniors, SEA Games medalist Matthew Justine Hermosa finished 7th among the Men with 1:01:51 while in the women’s race, the Philippines had two Top 10 finishers thanks to SEA Games medalistKira Ellis (1:09:14) and her teammate Samantha Corpuz (1:09:31) ranking 6th and 8th place respectively.
Other Filipino triathletes who finished were as follows: U23 Men – Joshua Ramos 1:02:21 at 26th place, Iñaki Lorbes 1:02:39 at 28th place, and Juan Baniqued 1:06:21 at 34th place. U23 Women – Erika Burgos 1:10:01 at 22nd place. Junior Men – Dayshaun Ramos 1:05:43 at 19th place. Junior Women – Gene Quiambao 1:10:22 at 11th place.
The Philippine Team’s campaign at the 2023 Asia Triathlon U23 and Junior Championships in Japan is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). The Philippine team will be competing in more events overseas.
On the side, the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) announced election of Philippine officials at the Asian Triathlon Congress which goes as follows:
Asia Triathlon Executive Board: Tom Carrasco Jr. – Senior Vice President
Asia Triathlon Technical Committee: Sarita Zafra
Asia Triathlon Coaches Committee: Coach Ani De Leon – Brown
Asia Triathlon Women’s Committee: Maya Montecillo – Bono
Asia Triathlon Para Athlete Committee: Coach Anthony Lozada
Watch out for more Philippine multisport updates right here!
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!
Author Carlo Carrasco 