The Philippine leg of competitive pool freediving is about to embark on a pivotal moment as the historic New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, plays host to the much-anticipated National Pool Freediving Championship. From September 29 to October 1, 2023, the ultramodern Aquatics Center of New Clark City will be the epicenter of awe-inspiring aquatic apnea feats, and it all began with a successful opening ceremony graced by the various stakeholders that made the monumental sports event successful.
Before delving into the opening ceremony, it’s worth mentioning the venue itself. The Aquatics Center in New Clark City is a symbol of architectural brilliance. Its state-of-the-art facilities, Olympic-sized pool, training lap pool, diving pool, and seating capacity for thousands make it the perfect setting for a pioneering pool freediving championship.
With the support of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, the hosting of the iconic Aquatics Center in this competition would help raise the profile of the discipline, concurrently, showcasing its Olympic-grade and modern amenities according to Ms. Michelle San Juan-De Vera, BCDA OIC- Investment Promotions and Marketing Department. Moving forward with the success of this freediving competition gives leverage to New Clark City to host a similar event but on an international scale.
Having this type of event also coincides with the tourism vital tool of Central Luzon, The Travel, Breath, Dive – which marries the ideas of diving and wellness into an unforgettable tourism experience in the region. These moments are the best time to harness the growing interest in diving and freediving and, eventually, prepare all the relevant stakeholders in the context of sustainability. Dr. Richard Daenos, Regional Director of the Department of Tourism – Central Luzon Office, mentioned that the region is very much open to embracing this type of water sports discipline and truly a testament to beginning the synergistic efforts from the National Government, respective Local Government Units and the supportive Private Sector to development such inclusive programs.
Representing the Association International pour le Developpement de l’Apnee (AIDA) – Philippines, Group President Mr. Ramar Acuna stressed the heartfelt appreciation to all stakeholders, making the pivotal event a reality. Mr. Acuna, himself, witnessed the phenomenal growth of the freediving community – attracting more and more enthusiasts to embrace freediving. AIDA – Philippines President shared energetically shared the Philippine delegation’s unprecedented wins during the Jeju 2023 Competition despite no podium finishes. Many Philippine National Records were overtaken and broken, and this proves that Filipino Freediving athletes have potential, albeit recognizing that the Philippine Freediving position as being young in this field of sport. He also acknowledged each and every athlete who underwent stringent training undertaking to achieve new personal and national records.
During the Opening Ceremony, the National Freediving Athletes are bestowed honorary awards for their grit and perseverance to represent the Philippine in the international arena. All stakeholders too were recognized as they are the arms and legs of the success of this competition.
More importantly, I want to stress what Ms. Belle Brillantes, Freediver Athlete, has shared with the freediving community. She advised them to always remember their core and reason for what they begin in freediving. Additionally, she begins with a brief personal history of her affiliation with the sport. She caught my full attention as she delivered her genuine and heartfelt message. Moreover, Ms. Brillantes stressed the message to be the athlete or freediver who would be supportive of others throughout, instead of the athlete who would break barriers at the cost of broken relationships. It was truly a resonating message, not only in this community but to every sports discipline or community in our country.
The opening ceremony of the first-ever National Pool Freediving Championship at the Aquatics Center of New Clark City will be a true and strong testament to the power of human endeavor and the enduring relationship between humanity and water. It set the stage for an exciting and awe-inspiring competition that would celebrate the best of freediving, from record-breaking dives to moments of serene focus, and sooner, a bigger number of competitors representing all the island groups of the Philippines.
