Pinoy Aquaman shares diet, fitness secret

Wake-uppers:

Scene:  The Panglao’s “trio singing contest” is on August 18 at the Panglao town plaza. According to Dr. Dolereich Dumaluan, the event sponsor, he is looking for the next “The Lettermen.”  The grand  The “trio singing contest” is one of the highlights of Panglao’s fiesta.

The village of Bingag was declared champion
 during the 2^nd Panagat Festival. Photo by Leo Udtohan

champion will receive P25,000, while runners-up will receive P15,000 and P10,000.

Scene:  The 2nd Panagat Festival highlights the colorful tradition and culture of Dauis town.   11 contingents joined this year’s street-dancing contest which was won by Barangay Bingag. According to Dauis Mayor Marietta Tocmo-Sumaylo, Panagat (fishing) is basically, like any other religion-based festival, is always an attribution and expression of gratitude to the patron saint, Our Lady of the Assumption, for blessings received and at the same time, shows fishing as the major means  of livelihood of the Dauisanons.

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Internationally acclaimed open-water swimmer Ingemar Macarine is “silent” as he is not engaged in any open-water swim this year.

 Environmental lawyer and triathlete Ingemar Macarine:
 ‘Happiness is sleeping soundly for eight full hours, uninterrupted,
and waking up to spending my day productive.’
Photo by Leo Udtohan

Popularly known as “The Pinoy Aquaman, ” who made headlines last year as the first Filipino who attempted to swim the treacherous English Channel, he says it doesn’t mean he is over with his passion for open-water swimming.

He is just taking a break, and trying to shed off some weight, in preparation for another attempt to cross the English Channel, considered the Mount Everest for open swimming, next year.

He still is keeping himself fit by practicing intermittent fasting and being on a Mediterranean diet.

“I lost 14 kilos (30 pounds),” he told VRS on Saturday while drinking his favorite “sikwate” (a native hot chocolate) at Dalareich Chocolate House in Barangay Booy in Tagbilaran City.  From 93 kilos (200 pounds) from last year’s swim in London, he is now 79 kilos (175 pounds), fit and sexier. 

So how does he stay in shape?

Macarine revealed that he still is keeping himself fit by practicing intermittent fasting and being on a Mediterranean diet. He seldom eats meat, turning to vegetables and fruits instead.

He explained that intermittent fasting is not a diet, it's a pattern of eating.

“It's a way of scheduling your meals so that you get the most out of them. Intermittent fasting doesn’t change what you eat, it changes when you eat,” he said.

The Mediterranean Diet, perhaps the world's healthiest diet, is abundant in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil. It features fish and poultry—lean sources of protein—over red meat. Red wine is consumed regularly but in moderate amounts.

 Pinoy Aquaman Ingemar Macarine meets
Bohol’s chocolate/tableya Princess Dalareich Polot.
  Photo by Leo Udtohan

“It can carry huge benefits if it is done right: weight loss, increased energy, and many other things,” he said.

His usual brunch is oatmeal.

For dinner, Macarine said he likes having “chopseuy.”

The idea, Macarine said, is to have lots of protein and vegetables, and little or no carbohydrates such as rice. He also swears by camomile and green teas and water for their health benefits.

During coffee breaks, he drinks “sikwate” (hot native chocolate) and black coffee with honey.

Instead of turning to procedures, you know to go under the knife to look good, Macarine said he regularly does brisk walking everyday and swimming thrice a week.

Aside from diet and workouts, Macarine also stressed the importance of getting enough sleep, taking vitamins and having fun with friends as ways to maintain a healthy body.

“I sleep eight hours,” he said. “Happiness is sleeping soundly for eight full hours, uninterrupted, and waking up to spending my day productive.”

 What kind of diet do you have?

“I skip breakfast each day and eat two meals. The Mediterranean diet  is eating primarily plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables.  I use olive oil instead of butter.  Instead of salt, I am using  herbs and spices to flavor foods.  I eat red meat twice a week. ”

What’s usually for brunch and dinner?

“I like oatmeal, with three eggs, a buko juice and tea for brunch. For dinner, I like vegetables and fruits. ”

What food do you always crave for, what food do you avoid?

“I always crave for fish and vegetables. I like chopseuy and sari-sari. I only eat meat twice a week but only a small portion of it.  There are many recipes for fish and veggies.”

Any snacks between meals?

“No snacks!” 

How much water do you take per day (soda, coffee, tea or energy drinks)?

“A lot of water. ”

What vitamins do you take?

“Usually multi-vitamins. But mostly Vitamin C and fish oil.

What workout do you do?

“I do brisk walking and swimming.”

What part of your body needs improvement?

“I think my tummy.  Belly fat is harder to lose than fat in other areas of your body. It’s difficult to achieve.”

What part of your body is most vulnerable?

“My left shoulder. Due to volume of trainings, I had an injured  shoulder last year since endurance swimming has repetitive motions.”

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Art exhibit in Bohol brings appreciation for diversity

With art ranging from paintings, sculptural works, performance arts and installations, the Philippine Visual Arts Festival (PVAF) in Bohol 2018 was one of the most intriguing events hosted in this city during last month’s Sandugo Festival.

With an abundance of amazing art, perhaps the best part of the art exhibit was that artists came together to celebrate and be inspired.

The PVAF was held on July 23-27 was presented by National Commission for Culture and the Arts  (NCCA), Bol-anon United Sectors Working for the Advancement of Community Concerns (BUSWACC) and provincial government of Bohol.

According to Liza Macalandag, project coordinator, PVAF Bohol 2018 gathered 83 visual artists from all over the country to celebrate, reflect and refract on our heritage and the visual arts.

Kalamadera by Renzo Anora

Bohol’s  culture czar  and musical scorer Gardy Labad was the event consultant who said that  artists can draw from or reflect on the various facets of our heritage- cultural, natural, tangible and intangible- which are(bahandi)  treasures.

Fellow artist JumJum Ouano got to display his art.

“I love events like this where you get to bring your art and see everyone else’s art,” said Ouano. His work “Maglana Tag Potot? (Making Oil from Coconut Sprout?)” showed the appreciation of the coconut as a fruit that has many cultural attachment to Boholanos.  Potot (a coconut  sprout) served as food during hard times.

Manila-based multi-disciplinary artist Sam Penaso who used  his own body as the medium performed a mentally, creatively and physically challenging task on Alona Beach in Panglao town. His performance art was calling for clean seas.

While PVAF in Bohol 2018 was providing a great way for artists to showcase their talents, it also gave visitors the opportunity to explore the culture and talent of Boholano artists and other artists from the country.

“Expressive, lots of emotions are featured,” said Education student Jamielaine Butawan.

Butawan, 19, a resident of Cortes town, came to see the exhibit at the Island City Mall together with her friends Kathleen Jean Ayuban and Neil Amplayo.

“The art here said a lot about the artists from Bohol and other regions and how diverse everyone really is,” added Butawan.

Istallation arts were also displayed at the top of Chocolate Hills in Carmen town, Loboc River, Abatan River and Plaza Rizal in Tagbilaran City.

Installation art is a modern movement characterized by immersive, larger-than-life works of art. 

A giant whale-shaped blimp made of bamboo designed by contemporary artist-designer Leeroy New attracted visitors at the Chocolate Hills. It soared above the Chocolate Hills only until July 28.

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