Surigaonon lawyer and swimmer Ingemar Macarine, dubbed as the ‘Pinoy Aquaman’ for his extraordinary feats in open water swimming, is looking to add another feather in an already decorated cap when he attempts his 39th and 40th career swims this December and in May next year.
The endurance swimmer is gunning for a planned swim in the U.S. later this year– the 39th open water swim of his career– after which he is eyeing for a 40th slated in Zamboanga del Norte in May 2025.
These numbers are all but record-extending feats for the Surigao-born lawyer and swimmer, who has undisputedly claimed his moniker for having the most open water swims by a Filipino in history.
“This Dember yung 10-kilometer swim ko sa US, probably (sa) California kasi warmer doon eh since December. Naka-swim na ako doon ng December when I swam from the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz pero six kilometers lang yun… So, yun yung plan for December,” shared Macarine during an interview with GMA Regional TV and Synergy.
Meanwhile, he is eyeing Dakak, a coastal area in Zamboanga del Norte, as the venue for potentially his 40th career swim. “In May next year, Dakak. It's 14 kilometers. Organized na yun kasi pag mag-swim ako sa isang lugar, ang sponsor talaga ay yung LGU,” bared the former Sillimanian varsity swimmer.
His most recent feat was a 10-kilometer marathon swim in Roxas City, Capiz in March this year.
Expounding on his advocacy concerning marine protection and biodiversity conservation, Macarine recalls how his passion for the sea became a turning point as he got more involved in the sport of open water swimming.
“Ang first time ko swimming in open waters– just a brief background– four kilometers in Surigao City,” he said.
“Nag-swim kami from Basul Island to Surigao City, apat kami, ako lang mag-isa ang successfully naka-swim, first person in history doon sa area na yon. And then GMA 7 covered that swim. Naisip ko na, ‘why not promote marine conservation through open water swimming?’ Yun yung naging idea ko,” he said.
ADVOCACIES
“First, I'm promoting marine conservation. Then number two is a healthy lifestyle. So yung third advocacy na pinopromote ko, tourism naman.”
His present-day advocacy on environmental protection is largely inspired by his childhood in Surigao where he says he is lucky to have experienced the beauty of nature that is untouched and unpolluted.
“When I was growing up in Surigao, dagat, as in malinis talaga, walang mga plastic. Nung nag start na ko college days naisip ko na, why not promote marine conservation to open water swimming?” he noted.
Macarine hopes to inspire the younger generation of Filipinos to “care more for the environment” and to have an “active lifestyle” amid the relentless digital fixation in this technological age.
“Mas maganda kung sports. Kasi ako nga, parang nasanay na yung katawan ko, 48 years old na ako. Hopefully yung mga younger generations ay ma-inspire din sila to engage in sports.”
Asked about his palpably healthy physique and how he maintains such a youthful energy, the 48-year-old endurance athlete says he is big on health and nutrition.
For Macarine, he can never go wrong with healthy food and consistent exercise.
“I don't smoke, I don’t drink– not even red wine since 2017. I am a vegetarian. I eat healthy. Plant based diet, whole food. Then I sleep seven to eight hours daily.”
HEALTH IS WEALTH
Training for competitive open water swimming can be taxing, especially for someone who’s a full-time DOJ prosecutor, a businessman, and a family guy. “If you think about it, it’s not easy right?” Macarine said.
“How can I manage to swim or train one to two hours daily, and then my full time job, family and business? It’s just time management. Pero kung iisipin, hindi madali,” he added, discussing the kind of discipline and mindset necessary in order to have the body of work he currently boasts.
It’s all about a healthy and active lifestyle, claims the triathlete.
“Ang training ko is two to three times a week ako mag-run. I train every day. I either run– like kanina nag 5K run ako sa condo– or swim naman. So I train every day, one or two hours daily– no exception. Kung hindi ako maka-training, push-up at squats na langs. Fifty to one hundred.”
The nature of Ingemar’s sport– traversing with moody currents the vast open sea– requires resolute calmness and an extremely robust endurance.
The monotonous action of bringing one’s arms forward and backward against the natural resistance of nonstop open water waves needs extreme meditation. Prayers, as is the case with Macarine, are just as effective too.
“Psalm 23, that's what's on my mind. Because if you just swim for 30 minutes, it's like you're already tired, right? How much more if 12 hours? So what I do is bumabalik talaga ako sa Psalm 23– the Lord is my Shepherd. It's not easy if your mind is not strong,” he explained.
