Indonesian pilot bags PH Leg of Paragliding Accuracy World Cup 2015

GEN. SANTOS CITY -- A Malaysian pilot bagged the first place in the Philippine leg of Paragliding Accuracy Wold Cup 2015 recently held in Saranggani province, the Department of Tourism 12 said today.Pilot Sawrianto Sawin bested 65 other foreign and local pilots who participated in the international competition held at SAFI Ranch, Maasim, Saranggani province.Yoshiki
Oka of Japan was second place and Nicky Afiano of Indonesia got thethird prize.

The
pilots took off from a hill top 950 feet above sea level overlooking
Sarangani Bay. As the rules said, paragliders mustland on a marked target Bull’s eye in the landing
site located at SAFI Ranch with zero as the highest score.
Nelly Dillera, DOT-12 regional director, said thepilots came as early as March 26
to check in to the hotels in General Santos City which were all DOT accredited entities.

Participants were fromMalaysia, Spain, China, Canada, Pakistan,
Singapore, Thailand, Japan, United Kingdom, Australia, Serbia, United States, Taiwan, Germany, South Korea, and Philippines.

Some
pilots were a week earlier to practice their launch and landing techniques,
while others practiced on the 26th and 27th of March.

MAGIC WIND

Randell
Buko” Raymundo, the PGAWC 2015 event director, shared one of the good comments
he heard during the competition. Every bodywas waiting, then one pilot said…
this is the good kind of parawaiting… then we got the magic wind, Raymundo said.Dillera said the competition day was fluid as the participants had to wait for proper timing or the time when the wind shows the timing to glide.DOT Assistant Secretary for Mindanao
Arturo Boncato Jr. was present to grace the program. Boncato was also present during the International Paragliding Accuracy Competition last yearheld in the same venue. We treat you well more
than how we treat our families,”

Boncato said to the pilots' delight. PAGANA”
DOT 12 hosted the dinner and awarding
ceremonies which was Maguindanaon inspired” where the dinner was served
in Pagana.”

Pagana
is a common festive food preparation among the Maguindanaons. Food were placed
in authentic brass and silver wares covered in tudong”, and placed on floors
with banig” as carpets so that the guests my sit on the floor.
There were Maguindanaon food
delicacies for the guests to indulge like the tinagtag,” putri mandi,” tipas,” and dudul.”

The
venue was in the 6th floor of Sydney hotel, General Santos City
which was able to accommodate 250 guests. The convention hall was filled with
likos,” a Maguindanaon interior décor.

Pilots
were mesmerized and excitedly removed their shoes to sit on the banig,” but
what made the evening even more colorful was the outstanding performance of the
Mindanao State University Kabpapagariya Ensemble theatrical group.

The showed the Maguindanaon culture in dancing, singing and
musical instruments that went on for 30 minutes and kept the guests stunned and
applauding.

Officials,
sponsors, organizers, and pilots were present during the awarding ceremonies,
among them were the Kite Association of
the Philippines (KAP), DOT 11 Regional Director Roberto Alabado III, Regional
Tourism Council President Michelle Solon, Living Asia Channel, Commission on
Audit Region 12, Department of Trade and Industry Sarangani, the Maasim
Sarangani Local Government Office, General Santos City Tourism Office, and the
Sarangani Provincial Office.

SIDE EVENTS

Aside from the Paragliding
Competition, other events were enjoyed and witnessed during the three days
event.

Over
70 participants from 12 different mountaineering club in the region joined the
Mountaineering Forum conducted by the Sarangani Bay Outdoor Club headed by Jing
Velos.

Participants
took part in the Biodiversity lecture, Land navigation contest, Orienteering
Competition, Leave no Trace Principle, and Basic Life Support Lecture. A cash
prize of 2,000 pesos was given to the winning team.It was a 20 to 30 minutes climb on
take-off site of the paragliders, mountaineers set up their camps and enjoyed
PGAWC 2015 as much as the pilots did.

But
aside from mountaineering, DOT 12 together with KAP, launched the SOX Kite
Festival. A three days event including Kite Making Workshop, Kite Flying
competition and Kite for Peace.

Ceremonial
Kite Flying for Peace were done using kites which are look alike ofdoves.

Mayor
Dibu S. Tuan of Tboli, alsoa tribal Leader said all indigenous peoples in Mindanao
should be recognized and taken into consideration for whatever development
plans there is.
Former MNLF Commander Mando Bides
emphasized the importance of education as one reason where they returned to the
folds of the law. It’s difficult to keep on hiding and our families were not in our priorities, he said. Life became smooth when we mainstreamed into the
society. Our children can now go to schools and have stable lives,” Bides added.Lt. Col. Ronald Alcudia, commanding
officer of 27th IB, meanwhile, emphasized the need to initiate
economic activities in the communities to generate peace and prosperity in the
area.

KAP and DOT 12 agreed to dedicate the
biggest sports tourism event not just to the stakeholders, and foreign visitors
but as well as the peace makers, peace believers, and peace in Mindanao.

Dillera
saidand The PGAWC 2015 broke boundaries, boundaries in language, in food, and in
culture… it also provided opportunity for friendship among organizers and
competitors.”

Now
that Maasim Sarangani has becomethe paragliding capital of the Philippines, DOT 12 is
set to achieve more opportunities for the growing tourism industry of Region
12, also known as the 12th paradise of the Philippine, now being
famous in its nickname SOX, short for SOCCSKSARGEN or the provinces composing Region 12.SOCCSKSARGEN is composed of the provinces ofSouth Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Tacurong, Koronadal and Gen. Santos.