Healthy lifestyle key to swimming success, Pinoy Aquaman says

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – “Living a healthy lifestyle is behind my success in non-stop open sea swimming,” said Ingemar Macarine, also known as “Pinoy Aquaman,” after completing a 10.8-kilometer swim from Olotayan Island to People’s Park in Barangay Baybay, Roxas City in 3 hours, 15 minutes, and 50 seconds on Sunday, March 17.

Macarine, 38, attributes his success to abstaining from alcohol and cigarettes and maintaining a vegetarian diet.

Welcomed ashore by Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas, Olotayan’s barangay chief Manuel Bongbong Aninang, and city officials at People’s Park, Macarine took to Facebook to announce his accomplishment as the first to complete this particular swim unassisted.

His endeavor was more than just a personal challenge; it aimed to champion clean seas and beaches, boost Roxas City tourism, and advocate for a healthy lifestyle.

Discussing his experience, Macarine reflected on the favorable conditions compared to a challenging swim in Masbate the previous year, where strong currents had hindered his progress.

“So far this is my fastest marathon swim (10km). The current, tides, and wind were all in perfect condition. So I took advantage of it by swimming faster, thinking the current might change anytime just like what happened during my Masbate swim last year.”

He said that during the Masbate swim, he was caught by a strong current 2km from the shoreline.

“I had to battle it out just to reach the shore. Today was an ideal day and condition for a long swim. I am very much prepared for this swim. I did back-to-back trainings for the past few months, 30-minute run and floor exercises in the morning and 2 hours swim in the evening. I had to balance work and training, considering my full-time job as a Department of Justice Prosecutor,” he added.

He attributed his readiness to rigorous training alongside his duties as a Department of Justice Prosecutor, balancing morning runs and floor exercises with evening swims.

Macarine thanked Prosecutor Jomar Betita and City Councilors Atty. Gary Potato, Fernando “Bords” Viterbo, Jaime Altavas, and Rey Magallanes for their support.

Looking ahead, Macarine revealed plans for his next aquatic venture: a 10-kilometer swim from Canada to the United States in July 2024.