Buglasan: Swim Fest 2024
The Buglasan Swim Fest is a swimming competition organized for the swimming enthusiasts of Dumaguete City. This event was held in the Macias Aqua Center back on October 12, 2024. The event started at 6:00 AM and lasted until 6:00 PM in the evening. The Negros Oriental Blue Dolphins Swim Club co-organized this event with the Negros Oriental Sports Development office of Dumaguete City. The event was open to all interested swimmer participants, and the pool entrance was also left open so that spectators, including myself, could come and give their support.
I was not able to come during the opening of the Swim Fest since it was held so early, and so I initially expected that other spectators weren’t able to as well. However, I was astonished to see the side benches chock full of people cheering on their friends or family who participated in the tournament. Because of this, the Aqua Center was indeed incredibly lively all throughout the event. I was even able to meet some Sillimanian athletes who joined in and swam through some or most of the categories. All the participants glided through the pool water and raced against each other while the crowd cheered and screamed their support. Overall, it was an incredible experience, one that I would not change in any way at all.
Throughout this event, only one thought popped up in my mind. Swimming truly is a tedious and physically demanding sport. Swimming as a way of relaxation and swimming for competition is truly completely different. Because of this event, I think I may need to think about practicing proper form during swimming if I even want to be as graceful and strong as the Swim Fest participants. Should I be given the time to attend the next Swim Fest, I will surely come. Maybe spectating and observing them swim can help me improve my form in swimming. This only counts as one of the many benefits of watching these kinds of events, though, as there can be more to be found if you just observe hard enough. If I am given the chance to attend this event again, I’ll surely bring banners and horns to give my full support next time.
Because of this activity, I am now more determined to practice swimming more intensely and to also correct my swimming form so that I can enjoy even the deepest ocean waters during vacations. All these realizations come from observations alone; that alone is a surprise.