FeaturesFeatureHow we crossed the Tañon Strait

How we crossed the Tañon Strait

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By Dr. Frances Hope Yap

How did I end up as one of the first all-women group of six to cross the Tanon Strait?

It all started on that fateful conversation with swimming coach Monique Furbeyre in the last week of January this year. I had intended to place an order for a knee-length swimsuit but she ended up inviting me instead to be the 6th member of a team she was putting together.

Strangely, there wasn’t a shred of hesitation in my answer to her invitation to take on the challenge of crossing the Tanon Strait.

By the first week of February, the six of us met up for the first time: there was registered nurse Monique Furbeyre, her sister, also a registered nurse, Chesa Furbeyre; Ma. Monica Angela “Maru” Rodriguez who runs Southday International School, Sheila Pabalate, another registered nurse Flom Barot-Datoy, and yours truly.

Considering our individual struggles as women, we all agreed to do the monumental crossing to time with the celebration of Women’s Month.

Then we needed a name for our team that would resonate with our love for the water, and to emphasize that we were empowered women; a name that sounded catchy as well. I casually uttered “Ocean 6” and all our eyes lit up, and then we had a name.

As our team leader, Monique laid out for us a preliminary plan, the needed logistics, and the key people/groups with whom we had to coordinate.

I have to emphasize here our wise decision to listen and heed the counsel of the local fisherfolks — it paved the way for proper planning.

As we all wanted the event to be successful, our individual tasks and contributions to the team effort seemed seamless and were accomplished with ease. As we knew our own strengths and weaknesses, each member stepped up to the plate when needed for the team.

Since the six of us are working professionals with demanding jobs, the most difficult part of the preparation was adjusting our schedules to be able to train together in open water, right on the ocean. So we took it upon ourselves to train in the pool or in open water as often as we could.

I would struggle to wake up by 5:30am daily, and begin swimming about two kilometers each morning. I would often join the TriONe team in their open water training sessions in Bacong.

The preparation entailed a lot of determination, discipline, mental conditioning, and faith. Faith in God, and faith in ourselves that we could finish what we started.

For me, it was as if I was working towards a realization of a childhood dream of crossing the Tanon Strait. Crossing out something off my bucketlist. Believing that it will be possible; that it is indeed possible.

Putting our hearts and minds into believing in ourselves, we trained and trained as often as we can; together, in pairs or by trio whenever our schedules permitted, or individually when our calendars were in conflict.

We knew that to have a dream was not enough. We knew we had to work for it and believe in each other. We leaned on each other when we needed help. With this bond that was forged during the preparation, we became six strong empowered women determined to conquer Tanon Strait.

We also sought the counsel of marine biologist Dr. Rene Abesamis, an expert in the marine life and condition of Tanon Strait. We held briefings with the Coast Guard, the Negros Oriental Radio Amateurs Disctrict 7, Rescue 613, and ONe Rescue for emergency medical support.

We were given a blow-by- blow first-hand experience by swim coach Nino Pinero who had actually crossed the Tanon Strait in previous years with a mixed team of swimmers.

We prepared harder, as much as we could, physically and mentally. We approached key people and friends who were willing to support us in any way.

The low pressure zone and the amihan hung over our heavy hearts the day before the event. Our support team was not complete for our final briefing due to the heavy weather and large waves.

But as we looked at each other on the night before the event, there was not a doubt in our hearts that we would back out. With the safety of our support team and also for ourselves in mind, we submitted our fates to God before we decided to just get a good night’s rest.

Despite the final briefing held at Pebble Beach in the southern town of Santander in Cebu about a possible cancellation of the event, we woke up at 3 am, and followed our schedule as planned.

Applying sunblock on my skin, followed by petroleum jelly to protect me from jellyfish stings, I could hear the sound of the big waves slamming heavily against the seawall. I met with the team by 3:30 am for a good breakfast. Still awaiting the approval of the Coast Guard, we did our warm up by 5 am led by Coach Nino.

Then we got the go signal. As we huddled to pray, we could feel the strong determination in each other’s eyes. As the Coast Guard boat was approaching, Coach Nino blew his whistle at us, and off we started swimming. And we just swam and swam and swam for the next six kilometers.

I still clearly remember what was going through my mind as I was doing my strokes in the middle of the ocean. I was talking with God. I was listening to him. I was telling him my desires and my plans and my wishes. And when I didn’t have anything left to say, I would say The Lord’s Prayer. I must have prayed it more than a dozen times.

We had around four water breaks in the entire stretch, while treading in the middle of the ocean. At one point, we were given chocomallows for a sugar boost.

About two kilometers approaching our finish area at Campaclan in Sibulan, we encountered rip currents that tested our spirits. Jason Abiera of Rescue 613 redirected our path, as we continued to fight through the current, and fight against the nagging thought that we might not make it through the rip current.

I could see Dr. Rosalind Yu, medical team leader with an all-women ONe Rescue team, standing near the edge of their wildly-rocking guide boat, ready to implement safety measures amidst the tumultuous current.

I also remember hearing Coach Nino’s voice, yelling at us to “Just keep swimming!” With that, I went on beast mode, and just swam and swam to my heart’s content. I could sense that all of us in the team were fired up to do just that.

Finally setting foot on the sands of Cangmating, Sibulan after a three-and-a-half hour open water channel swim across the Tanon Strait, we were speechless. The feelings were indescribable. Words could not exactly describe our feeling about the humbling hand of God during that whole journey. The six of us made it! And it was all God’s doing! God made it possible for us.

Overwhelmingly, the loving support that various people gave us before and during the event was key to our success. We couldn’t have accomplished it on our own.

We look back now, and remember every face of our support team — how they believed in us the moment we asked for their support, and the sacrifices they each made to help us achieve our goal.

Ocean 6 did it. The first all -women team to ever cross the Tanon Strait. It does not matter what your age, size, or religion is. We stand for women. We stand for young and old women.

If I learned anything from that event, it would be the need to Put your heart and mind into whatever you dream for. Work hard for it, and believe in yourself. It is never too late.

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