Standard Insurance FarEast 28R Open and National Championships Concludes with High Winds and Unforgettable Camaraderie.

The final day of the 2025 Standard Insurance FarEast 28R Open & National Championships in Subic Bay delivered an intense showdown on the water, with sailors battling through strong, shifting winds of up to 23 knots. The stakes were high as teams pushed their limits in the last two races, making every maneuver and tactical decision count.After three days of world-class racing, Standard Insurance PSA 1, skippered by Ridgely Allan Balladares, claimed the overall championship, followed by Team Aurora Hong Kong, skippered by Pavel Kanev in second and Team Royal Varuna Yacht Club Thailand, skippered by Morten Jakobsen in third.This event would not have been possible without the immense support of Standard Insurance, which has played a vital role in bringing international teams together to compete in the Philippines. Their commitment ensured top-tier race management, safety teams, and resources, making this regatta a benchmark for sailing excellence. (Philippine Sailing /PSA)

SUBIC, Zambales – Diego Jose Dimayuga and Lauren Lee Tan dominated the Under-15 (Youth) category in the National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) at Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Freeport Boardwalk in Zambales on Saturday.
Dimayuga, representing Get Coach’D Academy, clocked 30 minutes and 55 seconds to win the 500m swim-10km bike-2km run race over teammate Pio Mishael Latonio (31:34) and David Mora of TNST/Sante Barley TriTeam (31:39) in the boys’ division.
Tan, 12, of Ormoc Aquatic Edge ruled the girls’ division in 34:07. Christy Ann Perez of TLTG Go for Gold PH (34:27) and Alaina Bouffaut of Get Coach’D Academy (35:04) placed second and third, respectively.
“It was tough because all of the competitors trained hard,” Tan, a grade 7 student at St. Paul’s School of Ormoc Foundation Inc., said. “This is my first time to join a triathlon tournament.”
Meanwhile, Pele Matteo Latonio (Get Coach’D Academy) and Elise Salas (Olongapo Junior Trackers) topped the Super Kids 11-12 category (400m swim-8km bike-2km run).
Latonio (32:02) won over Chris Donovan Lacuna of Olongapo Junior Trackers Multisport (32:19) and Oliver Kurt Alingarog of DLSZ Tri Team (32:34) in the boys’ division.
Salas (33:06) defeated Naomi Rosalie Dimayuga of Get Coach’D Academy (33:50) and Saffi Vanicka Son of TLTG Go for Gold PH (33:08) in the girls’ division.
In the 9-10 category (200m swim-6km bike-1km run), Gabriel Tapuro of Team Megawide (24:02) won over Nathaniel Rafael Macasaet of Golden Flippers Swim Club (24:30) and John Luigi Remolino of TLTG Go for Gold PH (24:50) in the boys’ division.
The top three finishers in the girls’ division were Pia Gienne Meiko Gito of Sante Barley Tri Team (23:22), Juriel Brooke Julian of Olongapo Junior Trackers Multisport (24:35) and Angeli May Casera of GAS Coaching (24:45).
The medalists in the 7-8 category (100m swim-2km bike-800m run) were Eli Julian Dela Cruz of Team Megawide (13:43) who won over Theodore Caleb of TLTG Go for Gold PH (14:27) and Jiro Tamayo of TriVatan (14:46) in the boys;’ division; and Abigail Bouffaut of Get Coach’D Academy (16:02), Stacey Ailia Aisha Escala of Olongapo Junior Trackers Multisport (16:35) and Zia Angel Da Silva of TLTG Go for Gold PH (17:14) in the girls’ side.
Ruan Azriel Santos and Jan Christel Culanag of Olongapo Junior Trackers Multisport were crowned champions in the 6 and under category (50m swim-1km bike-400m run).
The race continues Sunday with the elite/junior men and women; para triathlon men; sprint age group men and women (16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59) and 60 and over for men only; sprint age group men and women (18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49); 50 and over (women); 50-54, 55-59 and 60 and over (men); and standard team relay (men, women and mixed) categories.
The race distances in the event organized by Triathlon Philippines and suppported by the Philippine Sports Commission are 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run for sprint elite, junior elite, para, and age group; and 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run for standard age group and team relay. (PNA)

MANILA – Cebu will be sending a big delegation to the 2025 National Age Group Triathlon (NGAT) tournament scheduled Jan. 25 and 26 at Subic Bay Freeport.
Leading the contingent is Andrew Kim Remolino, the defending men’s elite titlist in the competition organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines.
“It’s gonna be a hard race to start the season since everyone’s really getting ready for it,” Remolino said in an interview on Sunday.
“The NGAT is the first qualifying race to get a slot for the SEA (Southeast) Games in Thailand, so for now, we are just preparing for the things we could improve before the race day,” added the 23-year-old who hails from Talisay.
He bagged an aquathlon silver at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games.
The Thailand SEA Games is set in December this year.
Remolino won the 2024 NGAT, with an Olympic distance 1.5-kilometer swim, 40K bike and 10K run, in 56 minutes and 56 seconds, beating fellow Cebuano Matthew Justine Hermosa who registered a personal best 56:57 and Baguio City’s Dayshaun Ramos (57:31).
Also back this year is Raven Faith Alcoseba, who clocked 1:03:55 to rule the women’s division over Erika Nicole Burgos of Tanauan, Batangas (1:05:39) and Kira Ellis (1:06:16).
Hermosa, Burgos, Ellis and Iñaki Emil Lorbes bagged the mixed team gold medal at the Cambodia SEA Games.
Other Cebuanos in the lineup are Renz Wynn Corbin (men’s elite); John Michael Lalimos (men’s junior elite); Nicole Marie Del Rosario (women’s elite); Alex Niño Silverio and Cedei Abellana (para triathlon); Zackary Angelo Da Silva and Henry Ezekiel Go (youth male); Christy Ann Perez, Niala Kyrzl Limas and Henia Ethania Go (youth female); John Wayne Ybañez (age group men); Venice Herbias (age group women); Kian Manabat (16-19); Mika Natural (13-15); Zia Angel Da Silva (8-under); Theodore Son and John Luigi Remolino II (9-10); Safficka Son and Zoe Angel Da Silva (11-12); and Althea Arciaga (9-10).
“I’m expecting a podium finish for all my athletes,” Cebu contingent coach Roland Remolino said. (PNA)

Subic Bay Freeport – Subic Bay Freeport plays host once again to the NCAA Season 99 Beach Volleyball Tournament, the host of the prestigious collegiate event since 2012.
The tournament will be held at the Subic Bay Sand Courts from January 24 to 28, utilizing the area that was once the battleground of the best beach volleyball players from Southeast Asia during the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2019.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Deputy Administrator for Administration Atty. Ruel John Kabigting cited that admission is free for any beach volleyball fan who wish to root for their teams during the games. He added that the continued hosting of Subic for the NCAA Beach Volleyball Tournament is a testament of the agency’s thrust to help budding athletes become part of the national talent pool.
“Subic Freeport is incomparable to any other place in the country. The sand, sea and mountains are great venues for various sporting events such as triathlons, duathlons, epic bike races, marathons, and of course, beach volleyball,” he said.
“We are proud and honored to be the host of the event, and I hope that Subic Freeport remains the host for this event for the centennial season next year. It is also a great honor for us to cultivate the younger generation of athletes and make Subic their second home,” he added.
The official thanked the tournament organizers for promoting Subic Bay Freeport as their preferred sports destination, citing that their continued patronage of the area shows how much they trust the agency. He added that the SBMA is complete in terms of emergency responders, as well as competent security officers that keep the event safe and secure.
Jose Rizal University is the host of the tournament with Management Committee chairman Paul Supan leading the organizing of the event. Supan said, “We have an exciting tournament ahead of us. This year, we brought back our junior division so there are now three divisions: mens, women’s and junior.
He added that the reason why the organizing committee chose this Freeport is that Subic provides the appropriate atmosphere and ambience of holding the beach volleyball event. He added that one of the players to look out for is Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Louie Ramirez who is a promising talent to become part of the national team.
According to NCAA Beach Volleyball Event Chairman Peter Cayco, 12 persons represent each of the 10 schools. However, since some schools brought their staff along with them, the delegation is now at 200, yielding a full capacity for billeting hosts Bayfront Hotel and Terrace Hotel. This also caused a spill over to nearby hotels such as Subic Park hotel and Seorabol Grand Leisure Hotel.
“The spill over to other hotels happened since some of the players came along with their family and friends. This is certainly good for the economy since Subic Bay Freeport is a brand name in the sports tourism sector,” he added.

SUBIC – It rained and rained but the downpour neither stopped nor cooled down the fearless triathletes, who swam, biked and ran the IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay with John Dedeus Alcala and Ines Santiago pulling off victories in varying fashions here yesterday.
Alcala pushed himself with all the strength he could muster in the closing run stage and pounded out the win in 4:43:45 while Santiago dominated the opening swim leg and cruised to victory in 5:35:59 in wet conditions in her side of the 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21km run race at the Subic Bay Boardwalk.
With the pack of intrepid bidders still disputing the centerpiece Century Tuna IRONMAN Philippines crowns at press time, Alcala and Santiago took the spotlight in the half-triathlon, including $1,000 each, in rare damp and cold conditions.
Alcala put up the kind of finish he flaunted in stealing the show – but in stifling heat – in the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Puerto Princesa in Palawan last November, racing at his own pace in the swim (39:19) and bike (2:33:21) before pouring it out with a best 1:27:05 clocking in the run leg.

Subic Bay, Philippines- The future of Philippine Marathon showcased the fruit of their labor as they flashed their way to excellence at the IRONKIDS here in Subic Bay.
A total of 171 kids aged six to 15 years old clashed for this year’s first IRONKID title in the event starting and ending at the heart of Subic Bay.
The IRONKIDS race covered various distances depending on age category from 100 to 250 meters of swimming, and one to two kilometers of running for the young ones, who could potentially grow up competing in the 5150, 70.3 and full IRONMAN in the future.
Winners of the IRONKIDS were Euan Ramos and Zabelle Eugenio
Ramos battled back from joint fifth in the swim with a big surge in the bike then stayed in control in the closing run to rule the premier 13-15 division in 24:34 with combined clockings of 04:53 (swim), 11:07 (bike) and 06:50 (run) over 250-m swim, 6-km bike and 2-km run distance. While, Eugenio, from San Isidro, Rizal, bested Erin Burgos in 28:54, clocking 05:01 in the swim and sustaining her charge with 12:20 and 09:01 times in the bike and run legs. Burgos finished in 29:22 with times of 05:17, 12:22 and 09:00, while last year’s Vermosa winner Celinda Raagas settled for third in 30:04 (05:32-13:15-08:40).

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – This premier Freeport again played host to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Beach Volleyball Tournament on Tuesday after a long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, who was represented by the Chief of Staff and Deputy Administrator for Business Atty. John Aquino, the hosting of the NCAA’s Season 98 Beach Volleyball Tournament is among the first of many sporting events that will be held in Subic Freeport.
Paulino cited that the hosting of the NCAA Beach Volleyball Tournament is also a grassroots thrust of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in molding the youth to become the country’s representative in the Olympics.
Around 150 delegations, including players, coaches and game officials from participating schools are currently in Subic Bay Freeport (SBF) to take part in the tournament. Paulino reminded the participants to keep the SBF clean as they go around and visit various places and establishments.
NCAA Season 98 Management Committee Chairman Estefanio Boquiron Jr. expressed elation over the venue of the tournament, citing that if the court is good for the Southeast Asian Games, it is certainly good for the NCAA.
“We started playing in Subic Bay Freeport several years back, using the sands at the Boardwalk area. After the first tournament held here, we just fell in love with the place because of the friendliness of the people and the cleanliness of the area,” Vice-chairman Paul Supan of the Jose Rizal University said.
Supan added that the Subic Bay Freeport is certainly the home of the NCAA’s Beach Volleyball Tournament, adding that the association aims to hold all of their beach volleyball tournaments in this premier Freeport.
Supan also said that the San Beda University Women’s team and the Emilio Aguinaldo College men’s team will defend their title in their respective divisions. He added that due to the long hiatus, teams from various schools are raring to show off their game.
The NCAA tournament will be held from January 17 to 21 at the Subic Bay Sand Courts.
In December last year, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation held its Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour at the Subic Bay Sand Courts.

From the suburb Amapola St. ragged hooping “naka-tsinelas na larong-kalye,” to being a member of the first team delegation of CLRAA (Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association) Women’s Basketball, all the way to University / Commercial League of Manila Women’s Basketball Tournaments…and all losses, sacrifices, high hopes & successes in between. This is the story of Dr. Yeye Dela Peña, the Commissioner of the first ever Olongapo Women’s Basketball Open League held last 8th of May 2022 at W11 Play Moonbay, Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

At the outset, Dr. Yeye, who is now based in Quezon City and a proprietor of Oasis Dental Clinic (SM Mall of Asia, SM North Edsa, SM BF Paranaque & W Mall branches), nevertheless, a certified “Batang-Gapo” has been envisioning this event to pay tribute to her hometown. The aim is a decent safe place & space to lady ballers who are in the sports of basketball. Professional skills improvement and opportunities for local young lady ballers to scholarship grants in Manila and more local players on pro-league games.

Commissioner Yeye has created a team to ensure that all her sporting visions transcends to reality through establishing Olongapo Women’s Basketball (OWB), co-founded by Harley Rodriguez, one of Commissioner Yeye’s Olongapo-based comrade who facilitates and host the groundworks of every sporting events, Abby Masangkay for Social Media & administration, and Marvin Pacamparra “MarPac” of W11 by EMW Lifewear for the technical committee and venue, together with his business partner, PBA Legend, Willie Miller.

The vision has finally realized when over one hundred lady basketball sports enthusiasts has joined the series of Olongapo Women’s Basketball activities.

The first was the OWB Pick-Up Game held last 3rd of April 2022 at W11 Play SBFZ. Overwhelmed by numbers of pre-registered lady ballers from Olongapo and Zambales, eight teams were formed & played a friendly match, and Gissele Acosta was awarded as Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Second was this season’s main event, Olongapo Women’s Basketball Open League 2022 held last 8th of May 2022 at W11 Play Moonbay SBFZ. Four teams; Sunday Rim Hoopers (Manila), G-Ballers (Olongapo), Villabears (Olongapo) and The Invictus (Zambales) have enlisted and competed for a one-day tournament. It was a clash of never-before-seen abilities, agilities, and sportsmanship of the mentioned team’s dynamics in the court.

The G-Ballers brought home the first Olongapo Women’s Basket Open League Champion trophy. Mythical Five were Gissele Acosta (G-Ballers), Laurenelle Felizardo (G-Ballers), April Tano (Villabears), Laurenelle, Gharet Santiago (Sunday Rim) and Julie Mae Sajer (Invictus). MVP was Jazzly Estudillo (G-Ballers). Congratulations once again Gapo Lady Ballers!

Let us continue to move forward as a team and join us thru our FB Page: Olongapo Womens Basketball. Abante Manlalarong Pinay! (Harley Rodriguez)

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and administrator Rolen C. Paulino has confirmed the return of tourism activities in the country’s premier freeport.

“First, Ironman was here two weeks ago. This is the second international sporting event after my appointment as SBMA chairman. And this goes to show that tourism is back in Subic,” Paulino said.

Paulino welcomed guests and participants of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, the second international sporting event to happen here, after the Inter-Agency Task Force for Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IAFT-MEID) placed Central Luzon under alert level 1, among most areas in the country.

The Clipper Race is a yacht race that goes around the world, facing one of the biggest challenges of the natural world and an endurance test like no other. Each fleet of yacht has a fully qualified skipper and first mate to safely guide the crew.

Now on its 12th edition, the Clipper Race 2019-2020 took off from London, UK in September 2019; made way to Portimāo, Portugal in September 2019; then Punta del Este, Uruguay in October 2019, Cape Town, South Africa in November 2019, Fremantle, Australia in December 2019 and Whitsundays, Australia in January 2020.

Each host port offers a unique opportunity to be immersed in its culture and explore the city’s highlights.

The race has restarted in Subic Bay, having been on-hold for two years since the Covid-19 pandemic restricted the movement of people to prevent the spread of the disease.

After leaving the waters of Subic Bay, the fleet of 11 yachts and about 250 crew members are heading to Seattle, USA and leave by April 2022; then to Panama and leave by June 2022; Bermuda by June 2022; New York, USA by June 2022; Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland by July 2022, and London, UK by July 30, 2022.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, co-founder and chairman of the Clipper Ventures, expressed appreciation to one of the host ports, Subic Bay. He also thanked the chairman and Tourism manager Jem Camba, “whose teams have worked tirelessly to ensure the smooth running of Clipper Race stopover in Subic Bay.”

Knox-Johnston, himself, was the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world in June 1968. He was one of the nine sailors to compete in the Times Golden Globe Race, who set off on a voyage that lasted ten months, securing his place in the history books after he arrived back in Falmouth, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom in 312 days at sea in April 1969.
Meanwhile, Camba disclosed upcoming tourism events for the rest of the first semester.
She mentioned there will be fun run, trail run, and cycling events. Holy Week activities will also resume, which is the peak season of Subic Bay, as well as other religious and non-religious events.
For the Holy Week, which will start on Palm Sunday and will end on Easter Sunday, she said that there would be nightly activities at the Boardwalk area, as well as entertainment from Holy Wednesday to Black Saturday.
Also, there will be three concessionaires in different areas—weekend night market at San Roque chapel, as well as concessionaires at the Boardwalk, and a Banchetto (banquet) at the mini-golf.
Paulino, who was appointed new SBMA chairman and administrator on March 1, said that he plans to bring back the “old glory days” of Subic Bay by making it attractive again to more tourists and visitors.
“Come to Subic! It is still the one of the most beautiful destinations in the country, and the number 1 in Region 3. We have fast, flexible and friendly people in Subic,” Paulino said.