Ormoc’s Lake Danao Festival set on Oct. 17-18

IT’S all systems go for the 2^nd Lake Danao Festival as Ormoc Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Orcham) lay the final preparations for the annual sporting event set to take place on Oct. 17-18. This year’s festival promises to be more exciting with more events and attractions lined up.

The festival aims to promote Lake Danao Natural Park (LDNP) as an eco-sports tourism site. LDNP is a 2,193-hectare timberland located 19 kms. east of the city center. It has a cool environment being an elevated area 700 meters above sea level.

From a one-day, four-event affair that attracted only about 100 participants in 2014, this year’s festival features eight events with at least 500 athletes from around the country participating. Three groups with a total of 100 members are expected to join the mountain-climbing alone.

Other events are: Kayak Race Team of 2 (males, females, mixed), 21K Marathon (open), 5K Trail/Fun Run (open), Standup Paddle (two males and one female, two females and one male), XCO or Rough Terrain Mountain Bike Race (men 40 above, men 30 above, men 29 below, women open), Downhill Mountain Bike Race (Open Elite, Master-A, Master-B and Ace for 20-29 years old) and Long Board competition (Push Race and Slide Jam).

Some of the events will be held in other barangays like the Downhill Mountain Bike (MTB) Race which will be in Cambantog and the Long Board competition in Cabingtan. The 21K Marathon will begin at the city plaza and finish at the lake. Participants of the 5K Train/Fun Run will jog the circumference of the 148-hectare lake.

Having invited more organizers this year, Orcham is able to offer additional events this time around. The organizers and their respective events are: Ormoc Runners Club, Terra Outdoor Club for the XCO MTB race, Ormoc Cyclers for the MTB Downhill race, Ormoc Board Riding Club, Island Buzz for Kayak and Standup Paddle (SUP) and Nature Unlimited Leyte Outdoor Club for Mountain Climbing.

A day before the actual event, a kayak and SUP clinic will be held to inform the participants of the guidelines and procedures of the contest. Other side events are a 1½-day Basic Mountaineering Course, cooking contest for local residents and a “Night by the Lake” featuring band performances, comedy acts and fire-dancing.

Lake Danao Farmers Association and the Barangay Organization to Guide, Serve and Accommodate You will also put up 15 booths at the view deck that will display local products. Proceeds from the festival will be used for Orcham’s conservation projects.