Filipino ‘Aquaman’ swims for peace

Macarine, 41, has been swimming to create awareฌness of the need to keep the seas and all of the natural environment clean. But last Sunday’s swim was focused on peace and hope in Mindanao.
“I am saddened by the ongoing war in Marawi city. It is sad to think that fellow Filipinos are killing each other in Marawi. 
“This swim is my humble contribution to promote peace between our brother Muslims and Christians in Mindanao,” he said.
Macarine started his swim at 6am.
“The swim startฌed from Guinsiliban Port, Camiguin Island. Our original landing point was Balingoan Port [in Misamis Oriental], but I was carried away by the strong current,” he said.
Macarine battled strong current and waves and a few jelฌlyfish.
“It was a difficult swim because of the unexpected strong current,” he said.
“My target was three to four hours. But it reached seven hours and 47 minutes for 23 kilometres instead of the 12km distance,” he said.
Macarine is a native of Placer, Surigao del Norte, and currently the Commission on Elections officer of Tubigon town, Bohol province.
He recently crossed a distance of 8.4km in the icy cold water of Hudson River in New York.
The crossing of Camiguin Island to mainland Mindanao is part of his preparation for his second attempt to cross the English Channel in August. 
His attempt to swim the channel last year was preฌvented by bad weather.
“This swim is very memorable for me because I am from Mindanao. I was born and raised in Surigao del Norte,” he said.