2nd EV Open Kayak Marathon race on Nov 3 at Kalanggaman Island beacons

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
October 29, 2012

PALOMPON, Leyte  –  An event to look forward to during the upcoming long weekend, is the Second Open Invitational 15 kilometer Kayak Marathon race in Eastern Visayas which the Local Government of Palompon, Leyte is hosting on November 3 at the enchanting Kalanggaman Island which is fast becoming a major tourist destination in Leyte.

DOT Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes informed that this event is the opening salvo of the 2nd Palompon Lawig Festival 2012, in honor of the town’s Patron, Saint Francis Xavier and in commemoration of the town’s fiesta on December 3.

The kayak marathon which aims to promote camaraderie, environmental protection thru eco-water sports intervention, encourage beyond border tourism, and appreciate the beauty of local culture and history, is being organized by the Palompon Municipal Eco-tourism Council Incorporated (PMET Inc.) and North West Leyte Tourism Alliance in collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

It is supported by the Department of Tourism, Provincial Government Unit of Leyte, 4th District Congressional Office, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard and various entrepreneurs, business groups and civic organizations from the private sector.

Mr. Rene Camposano, PMET Inc. president said that kayak sounds unfamiliar to the local folks but its fundamental nature has a strong parallel to the very roots of Palompon’s history. Palompon, being an old coastal town in northwestern Leyte, traces its name from the cluster of mangrove flowers / propagules that floats idly at the shallow portion of the harbor.

A Kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle. The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler.

In the evening of November 2, the night prior to the kayak race will be a Jamaican Night for the kayak race participants who maybe a beginner, intermediate or advanced kayaker with at least 21 years of age.

The grand kayak race will be participated in by 30 pairs of Kayak aficionados who are required to wear their assigned numbers and life vests during the race.

The race will start at 6:00 a.m. sharp from Kalanggaman Island going to Palompon Port. Cash prize of P15,000 with trophy will be given as first prize; P10,000 plus trophy to the second prize; P7,000 with trophy for the third prize; P5,000 with trophy for the 4th prize and P500 plus freebies for the 10 consolation prizes.

Palompon is a 2nd class municipality in the Province of Leyte, Philippines with fifty (50) barangays, nine of these are in the town proper. It is 124 Kilometers away from Tacloban City, the provincial capital of Leyte Province, 66 Kilometers from Ormoc City, the commercial growth center of the western coast of Leyte province and 72 nautical miles from Cebu City.

Kalanggamanan Island, on the other hand, is a 5.4 hectare island located northwest of Palompon. Politically, it is a sitio of Barangay Tinabilan, this municipality.

Kalanggaman has a shifting eastern sandbar with an approximate length of 320 meters and western sand bar with an estimated length of 238 meters. It has a distance of 15.90 kilometers or roughly 8.6 nautical miles from the town center and reachable only thru marine-based transportation.

The main attraction of this eco-tourism site is the island itself because of its white sand beach and magnificent sand bars. It offers wide arrays of eco-tourism activities such as snorkeling, swimming, sun bathing and SCUBA diving.

It has VHF (Very High Frequency) radio communication system for emergency and has cellular phone signals from all the major cellular phone providers. It has a 24/7 TOP COP (Tourism Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection) personnel on duty, tour guides and beach combers.