Team Iguana, composed of veteran adventurer racers Dennis Ararao, Andrew Chinalpan Jr. and Orville Bernabe, was the IPAR Luzon Leg champion.
Bernabe, who has been joining various adventure races as well as motor races since 1998, said he learned about IPAR through referrals and through race director Thumbie Remigio.
To prepare himself for the event, he jogged at least one hour a day and went mountain biking for two hours daily.
Chinalpan, on the other hand, served as the navigator of the group. A native of Baguio, Chinalpan said that his familiarity with North Luzon played a big role in their winning the top prize.
Just like Bernabe, Chinalpan is a sports enthusiast. "I started mountaineering way back in my college years in Baguio. Then eventually in 2000, I plunged into the world of adventure racing," he said.
The third member of Team Iguana, Ararao, is a long-time friend of Bernabe. The two have previously worked together at the Canon Ball adventure in Mindanao.
According to Bernabe, what sets IPAR from the other races, is the total experience of having to visit the diverse tourist spots around the country.
Bernabe and Chinalpan will both be joining the 2nd Island Paradise Adventure Race (IPAR 2), the Visayas Leg, which is set on Dec. 10 to 18. However, they will be pairing off with different partners.
The adventure competition staged by the DoT was patterned after the popular "Amazing Race" reality TV show. IPAR however aspires for the promotion of the country’s image as a safe and fun place to visit.
Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said that they aim to institutionalize IPAR into an annual major summer event that could hopefully attract both local and international tourists.
Unlike the motorcar adventure of the Luzon Leg which required a 4x4, the IPAR 2 or Visayas Leg will offer backpackers more chances of winning. For the Visayas Leg, participants will be required to ride public utility vehicles like jeepneys and buses to reach the race’s different destinations. For inquiries, visit www.wowpinoy.net.
