The island province of Camiguin showcased an impressive display of sports tourism as more than 300 athletes from 15 countries competed along volcano-studded coastlines, turquoise waters, and picturesque roads during the recent Ironman 5150 triathlon.
Sunken Cemetery 1.5-km swim course
The 51.50-km event began with a 1.5-km swim at the iconic Sunken Cemetery, then continued with a double-loop 40-km coastal bike course at the Old Church Ruins, and concluded with a 10-km run at the Camiguin Sports Complex in Mambajao, the capital town.
In the main event, Bea Quiambao extended her breakout season with a dominant win, finishing the women’s division in 2:44:16. The Bukidnon athlete managed the race from start to finish, from the swim to the run, despite difficult and changing weather conditions.
Kenneth Bonda won the men’s overall title in 2:19:59, delivering his best performance and also earning the Philippine Sports Commission Filipino Elite category crown.
A 16-year-old Filipino Elite athlete, John Edsille Hamlan, distinguished himself with another outstanding performance, highlighting the future of local triathlon and the grassroots growth fostered by the Sunrise Events and PSC partnership.
“Camiguin is one of the country’s most beautiful and storied islands, and bringing an Ironman 5150 race here allows us to combine both adventure and cultural discovery,” says Princess Galura, president and general manager of the Sunrise Events Inc., the sports management firm which is the exclusive licensee of Ironman-branded events in the country.
Sunrise Sprint Camiguin, a shorter version of the 5150, also provided thrilling racing as Patricia Cruz-Bautista and Yuen Verbruggen secured the men’s and women’s titles with times of 1:17:40 and 1:32:15, respectively.
The Sprint includes a 750-meter swim, 25-kilometer bike ride, and 5-kilometer run along the same route, serving as preparation for participants aiming for larger Ironman competitions.
Camiguin Governor Xavier Jesus “XJ” D. Romualdo welcomed the event as a milestone for the province’s growing tourism and sports initiatives. “We are proud to welcome triathletes from across the Philippines and around the world to experience the province, not just as a destination, but as a community which celebrates nature, culture, and active lifestyle.”
He stated that the successful event staging enhanced the province’s reputation as a growing international sports tourism hub in the Philippines and Asia, potentially leading to another Ironman race next year and similar events.
Besides Ironman, the event also hosts various activities under the “Camiguin, Isle Be There” brand. This year, notable sporting events included Climb Camiguin in March, which involved scaling the challenging Mounts Timpoong-Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument, and the recent Swim Junkie races at White Island sandbar, known for its scenic beauty.
In August, the province will host the Camiguin Dive Festival, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism-Northern Mindanao Regional Office.
The Provincial Government of Camiguin, along with various municipal governments, the Philippine Sports Commission, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee, Sunrise Events, and The Ironman Group, supported Ironman 5150.
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Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
