Friday, November 11, 2005

The Island Paradise Adventure Race (IPAR2 or Visayas Leg), which offers a top prize of P1 million to the winner, continues to receive a wide interest as shown by the rising number of inquiries from the public, including Hot Babe sensation Katya Santos and adventure sports icon Mike Potenticiano.

The IPAR Secretariat, reported it has received at least 70 inquiries, mostly from the regions covered by the IPAR2 race route, and that three teams (two from Cebu and a group sponsored by So-En) have submitted their entry forms and completed the requirements for the race.

IPAR Project Director Shahlimar Tamano said he expects at least 200 more inquiries would come in before the end of the registration period on November 30.

The number of participants in IPAR2 (Visayas Leg) will be limited to 35 teams of backpackers. This race, a follow-up of IPAR1 that covered Northern Luzon last May and won by Team Iguaana of Davao City, will run for nine days on December 10-18, 2005 and will cover a 2,000-kilometer plus distance through land and sea.

IPAR, the biggest adventure race ever in the Philippines, in terms of prize money (it offers a P1-million top prize) and number of destinations, is a product developed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to promote the Philippines as an adventure tourism destination and a fun place to visit in Asia.

Unlike in IPAR1 that featured a motoring format, the participants in the Visayas Leg will be required to ride public utility vehicles – jeepneys, buses and others – to reach their daily destinations.

The competing teams will be flagged-off on Dec. 10 at Kilometer 0 in Luneta, Manila and will race through the various destinations in Laguna and Batangas, and cross the seas via the Strong Republic Nautical Highway using the RO-RO shipping facilities to Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro, Boracay, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros, Bohol and the finish line, Cebu City.

The qualifying teams are expected to stop at around 50 destinations where they will perform challenges highlighting local attractions in the areas they will visit.

Local Government Units (LGUs) marked as IPAR2 destinations have pledged their logistic support have committed to organize trade, cultural and food fares to create a festive atmosphere during the event. Majority of the LGUs have also decided to field their own teams in the race.