With
an elevation of 2,956 meters above sea level, Mount Apo challenges
athletes from all over the world not just to climb the highest peak in
the Philippines, but also to conquer it within 24 hours through a
120-kilometer race called the International Mt. Apo Boulder Face
Challenge (IMABFC). It is the longest and most extreme adventure race in
the country, which will be held on April 25 to 26 in the municipality
of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur.The IMABFC is comprised of 47.8 km of biking, 53.5 km of trekking, 5 km of water tubing and 13.7 km of road running. The race is categorized into open elite, all-male relay and all-female relay, with each team having three participants of at least 18 years old.
The open elite team must have two racers and one member in charge of logistics, while the teams for the relay category must have three racers, each performing the first three disciplines and then running together as one team all the way to the finish line. This year's race route is similar to that of last year's.
Santa Cruz municipal councilor and tourism committee chair Fernando "Andy" Ugdoracion considers the IMABFC as one of the toughest, if not the toughest, races in the country.
"The race is very unique in a sense that it's not just an adventure race," Ugdoracion explains. "It also covers many aspects of tourism and espouses nature protection among others."
Department of Tourism (DoT) Region XI Chief Tourism Operations officer Eden David describes that it's even tougher than Ironman. "But right now, we're also planning to come up with another project for road and trail runners who are not into endurance or adventure races."
Last year's champions in the open elite category Mark Anthony Rance and April John Maniyog finished the race in 13 hours and 23 minutes, and they're hoping to defend their title. This is the second year that Rance and Maniyog are teaming up. Usually, former champions tend to split up or form a new team.
"The race is more on endurance training," says Rance, "so we follow a certain training program to prepare ourselves."
"It's also about sustaining your speed," adds Maniyog, who is more focused on mountain biking.
To date, there are 17 registered teams and counting, with a growing interest coming from other Asian countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei among others. Registration deadline is up to two days before the race proper. Race winners will take home a cash prize of P150,000, while the second and third placers will receive P100,000 and P75,000, respectively. Five consolation prizes of P20,000 each will also be awarded.
On its eighth year, the IMABFC continues to grow bigger and better each year, staying true to its objectives of cultivating one's love for nature, creating global awareness for environment conservation and making Davao the destination of choice for eco-adventure tourism in Asia and the world.
"The protection of the environment is a major thrust of tourism," DoT Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. enthuses. "Our 21st century tourists are more discerning and tend to patronize destinations with sustainable practices. The Davao region boasts of many unique offerings and attractions such as the durian, waling-waling, the Philippine eagle and Mount Apo. Top that with the community's active advocacy for protection, and we will have more desirable tourists appreciating these natural assets."
Organized by the local government unit of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, IMABFC is one of the highlights of the town's annual Pista sa Kinaiyahan (Feast of Nature), which is inspired by the Save and Protect Mt. Apo advocacy project. Happening simultaneously with the race is the annual cleanup climb that will be participated by 150 mountaineers across the country.
IMABFC is endorsed by DoT as one of its banner events for the Visit Philippines Year 2015 calendar of events, and is supported by DoT Davao, Department of Environment and Natural Resources XI and the provincial government of Davao del Sur. The event is also sponsored by Aboitiz, A Better Future, San Miguel Brewery, Inc., Mountain Hardwear, Franklin Baker and Sea Oil.
For more information, visit www.boulderface.com.
