MARIKINA CITY — August 22, 2026 — The 9th FESSAP Swimming Championship brought together swimmers, coaches, officials, parents and swimming supporters at the Marikina Sports Center last Saturday, August 22, for a day of exciting races, strong performances and a celebration of Philippine swimming.
The championship came at a welcome time for the swimming community. After almost two weeks of torrential rain that caused massive flooding in many parts of the country, the weather finally cleared, allowing the much-awaited competition to push through.
FESSAP leadership expressed its gratitude to God for blessing the event with good weather and allowing the swimmers to compete safely.
The meet featured the Class ABCD divisions and also served as a tryout for swimmers hoping to earn a place in the Philippine delegation to the 22nd ASEAN University Games, which will be held in Malaysia this coming December.
A total of 25 teams participated in the championship, bringing together swimmers from different parts of the country. Among the participants were a lone swimmer who traveled all the way from Cagayan de Oro and the LARA Swimming Team from Batangas province, handled by former top swimmer and coach Nikko Lara.
Their participation showed that competitive swimming continues to grow beyond Metro Manila, with athletes and coaches traveling long distances simply for the opportunity to race, gain experience and test themselves against other swimmers.
Fast Racing and Immediate Recognition
One of the highlights of the meet was the immediate recognition given to swimmers who won their respective heats.
Swimmers who finished first in their heat were awarded first-in-heat medals immediately after their races. The simple gesture brought smiles to many young swimmers and gave them an extra reason to celebrate their performance.
It also sent an important message to the athletes: every race matters, and every improvement deserves to be recognized.
Beautiful team championship trophies and special smaller trophies for the Most Outstanding Swimmers were also presented during the meet. The trophies were sponsored by Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP) CEO Mr. Graham Lim and came all the way from China.
For the swimmers, the trophies became more than awards. They were reminders of the hard work, early-morning training sessions and sacrifices made by athletes, coaches and families.
Swim League Philippines Joins the Celebration
Swim League Philippines (SLP) also joined the championship and brought beautiful certificates of participation for the swimmers.
Leading the SLP support was Mr. Fred Galang Ancheta, the indefatigable President of Swim League Philippines, whose continued dedication to swimming development was warmly appreciated by the organizers and participants.
President Ancheta personally donated the certificates of participation given to the swimmers. The certificates provided each athlete with a special keepsake recognizing not only their performance but also their effort, discipline and commitment to competitive swimming.
Ancheta also took the opportunity to sit down with Coach Ronald Nicdao, President of the Solid Swimming Coaches of the Philippines, to discuss plans and possible programs for the future of age-group swimming in the Philippines.
Their conversation centered on the need to provide young swimmers with more opportunities to compete, develop their skills and gain the international experience needed to compete against the best swimmers in Asia.
One of the most meaningful moments of the championship came during the awarding ceremony, when President Fred Galang Ancheta and President Ronald Nicdao distributed the trophies hand in hand.
The two swimming leaders jointly took the lead in awarding the trophies to the winning teams and swimmers. It was the first time that the two presidents had jointly led the awarding in such a manner, creating a memorable picture of cooperation within the Philippine swimming community.
Their appearance side by side became a symbol of a bigger hope — that swimming organizations in the Philippines can find more opportunities to communicate, cooperate and work together.
President Ancheta also congratulated the organizers and participants and shared positive remarks about the smooth conduct of the meet.
Coaches and Swimming Leaders Show Support
The championship also received the support of respected personalities in Philippine and international swimming.
Among those who graced the occasion was Coach Wilfred Arzaga, a top age-group coach based in Canada, who came all the way from Canada to support the competition.
Arzaga congratulated the organizers for the smooth flow of the meet and praised the effort put into staging the championship.
He also informed the swimming community about his upcoming seminar scheduled for August 28-30 in General Santos City, giving Philippine coaches another opportunity to learn from his experience in developing age-group swimmers.
In a special gesture to the athletes, Coach Arzaga also gave out personalized Speedo swimming bags, much to the delight of the swimmers.
Also gracing the occasion was Mr. Ronald Nicdao, President of the Solid Swimming Coaches of the Philippines.
Nicdao praised the competition and emphasized the importance of giving swimmers more opportunities to race.
“Our swimmers need more competitions where they can race, learn and gain confidence. If we work together, we can give our young athletes a better future in swimming,” Nicdao said.
His message reflected one of the main themes of the championship — cooperation and development.
A Call for Unity in Philippine Swimming
The awarding ceremony became an opportunity for swimming leaders to discuss the current state of age-group swimming in the Philippines.
Both presidents shared the hope that the 9th FESSAP Swimming Championship could become the beginning of closer cooperation among the different swimming associations and organizations in the country.
There was a common understanding that Philippine swimming still has work to do. Neighboring countries have made significant progress in developing their swimmers, particularly at the age-group level, and Filipino athletes need more races, stronger programs and greater international exposure to close the gap.
The hope is that all swimming organizations can eventually come together under one roof and work toward one common goal: the development and welfare of Filipino swimmers.
Different organizations may have different programs, but the athletes have the same dream — to become better swimmers and, someday, represent the Philippines on the international stage.
Young Swimmers Make Their Mark
The championship also provided the spotlight for a group of promising new and upcoming swimmers.
Among those who stood out at the meet were:
- Camille Natalia Tsai
- Elias Joakin Castalone
- Andie Louise Dematera
- Wayland Lomibao Jr.
- Amilla Mari Tacorda
- Clive Kiefer Llanes
- Georgina Lourdes Mateo
- Luis Emmanuel Mercado
- Jordane Porsche Sales
- Arc Renzy Valdez
- Charles Ezekiel Canlas
- Alarie Somuelo
- Wilfred Jacob Urmanita
These young athletes displayed speed, determination and the fighting spirit expected from swimmers who want to move to the next level.
They may not yet be household names, but their performances suggest that swimming fans should remember their names.
With continued training, proper coaching and more opportunities to compete, these young swimmers could soon become familiar names in Philippine swimming — and perhaps even appear in international swimming reports in the years ahead.
For now, their message was delivered in the pool: they are young, determined and ready to learn.
De La Salle-Dasmariñas Dominates College Competition
In the 18-and-over college division, the De La Salle-Dasmariñas swimming team dominated the competition.
The team is headed by Coach Vernon Himor, who had an extra reason to celebrate as he marked his birthday on the same day as the championship.
His exact age remains a carefully guarded secret.
Friends and supporters apparently decided that it was safer not to reveal the number of candles needed for his birthday cake.
The birthday celebration brought some laughter and a lighter moment to a busy day of intense competition.
Behind the humor, however, Coach Himor and his swimmers had plenty to celebrate as De La Salle-Dasmariñas showed strong form throughout the college competition.
Bosay Resort Aquatic Club Takes Team Championship
After a full day of racing, the Bosay Resort Aquatic Club emerged as the overall team champion with 1,129.50 points.
The Royal Tankers Swim Club finished second with 680 points, while the Pasig Rave Barracudas placed third with 666 points.
Final Team Standings
- Bosay Resort Aquatic Club — 1,129.50 points
- Royal Tankers Swim Club — 680 points
- Pasig Rave Barracudas — 666 points
The final standings reflected the depth and strength of the participating teams. Every swimmer contributed valuable points, making the team championship a true reflection of teamwork.
Strong Support From Swimming Brands
The championship also received support from leading swimming brands and distributors.
MadWave Philippines and swimming apparel distributor Splash and Dash sponsored the competition, helping provide additional support for the athletes and organizers.
The involvement of swimming brands and industry partners is important to the continued growth of local competitions. Filipino swimmers need access to quality equipment, apparel and other resources as they work toward higher levels of competition.
Looking Toward Malaysia and Beyond
The 9th FESSAP Swimming Championship was not simply about medals and trophies.
It was also about preparing Filipino swimmers for bigger challenges ahead.
As a tryout for the 22nd ASEAN University Games in Malaysia this December, the meet provided college-age athletes with a chance to show their ability in a competitive environment.
For many swimmers, the championship was an opportunity to answer an important question: Am I ready to race against the best?
The answer will come through more training, more competitions and more international exposure.
FESSAP leadership also hopes that more swimmers will join future tryout meets for age-group athletes who are being considered for international competitions.
Among the planned international opportunities are Hangzhou this coming September, followed by possible competitions in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong in 2027.
These competitions could provide Filipino swimmers with valuable experience against athletes from some of Asia’s strongest swimming nations.
One Pool, One Goal
As the final races ended and the trophies were presented, the 9th FESSAP Swimming Championship left behind a message that went beyond the results.
The Philippines has talented swimmers.
It has dedicated coaches.
It has parents who sacrifice time and resources.
It has officials and volunteers who work behind the scenes.
And it has swimming organizations that continue to provide opportunities for athletes.
What the sport needs even more is unity and cooperation.
The sight of President Fred Galang Ancheta and President Ronald Nicdao working together during the awarding ceremony offered a hopeful picture of what Philippine swimming can achieve when leaders put the athletes first.
The two presidents’ discussion about age-group swimming also showed that there is a willingness to look beyond individual organizations and focus on the bigger picture.
Philippine swimming may still be behind some of its neighboring countries, but the gap can be narrowed.
It will take more competitions.
It will take better training.
It will take stronger coaching education.
It will take international exposure.
And most importantly, it will take everyone working together.
The 9th FESSAP Swimming Championship was therefore more than another day of racing.
It was a celebration of swimming, a showcase of emerging talent and a meeting place for people who believe in the future of Filipino athletes.
From the lone swimmer from Cagayan de Oro to the visiting LARA Swimming Team from Batangas, from young rising stars to college swimmers, from coaches coming from Canada to swimming leaders working together at the awarding ceremony, the championship showed that Philippine swimming is full of people willing to make the sport better.
The journey is far from over.
But with every race, every training session and every opportunity to compete, Filipino swimmers are taking another stroke toward the future.
FESSAP leadership extends its sincere gratitude to all 25 participating teams, swimmers, coaches, officials, parents, sponsors, guests and supporters who helped make the 9th FESSAP Swimming Championship a success.
The invitation now goes out to more swimmers and teams to join the next tryout competitions and help build a stronger pipeline of Filipino athletes for international competition.
Keep training. Keep racing. Keep believing. And, most importantly, keep Philippine swimming moving forward — together.