Three Davao City swimmers have earned spots on the Philippine team for the 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming Championships, scheduled for August 2026. Paolo Miguel Lim Labanon, Joshua Raphael Del Rio, and Ziva Alexci Lomuntad qualified during the National Open Water Swimming Tryouts held June 5-7, 2026, at Boracay Newcoast in Malay, Aklan. Philippine Aquatics Inc. officially named them to the national squad in a memorandum issued June 16.
Experienced Swimmer Del Rio Ready for Third National Stint
Joshua Raphael Del Rio, a 23-year-old fifth-year AB Interdisciplinary Studies student at Ateneo de Manila University, expressed excitement about making the team. “I feel very excited. I’ve been working hard and training every day for this meet, and it feels good to make the team,” he said. This marks his third time representing the Philippines in open water swimming. He previously competed in the Oceanman Asian Championships in Krabi, Thailand, the first Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming Championships in Malaysia, and the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. “It feels surreal even though I’ve already competed several times representing the country,” he added.
Del Rio’s interest in open water swimming began during training when he swam between Davao City and Samal Island. “Nag-start talaga siya as part of training kasi kaya naman yung swim from Davao to Samal. Doon ako nagkaroon ng interest sa open water (I first got into it as part of my training because I was already capable of swimming from Davao to Samal. That experience sparked my interest in open water swimming),” he said. His career highlights include multiple Davraa medals, a stint at the 2018 Palarong Pambansa in Vigan, a gold medal, silver medal and bronze medal at the 2018 BIMP-NT Friendship Games, and a gold medal plus six other podium finishes at the 2019 Arafura Games. He was also named UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year and currently serves as captain of Ateneo de Manila University’s men’s swimming team.
Labanon Grateful for Another Chance to Wear National Colors
Paolo Miguel Labanon, an incoming second-year student at Ateneo de Manila University, expressed gratitude for the opportunity. “It’s a great opportunity to compete against some of the best open water swimmers in Southeast Asia,” he said. The championship will be his seventh major open water competition and his second time representing the Philippines in the discipline. “It’s a privilege and a responsibility. I’m proud to wear the Philippine colors and give my best for the country,” he said.
Labanon highlighted the unique challenges of open water compared to pool swimming. “In open water, you have to deal with waves, currents, weather conditions and navigation, so it’s more unpredictable than pool swimming,” he said. To prepare, he plans to focus on endurance training, race simulations and recovery. He started competing in open water swimming in 2021 and has represented the Philippines in events such as the Asean School Games in Vietnam and the Asian Open Water Championships in Hong Kong. His achievements include four gold medals at the 2024 Palarong Pambansa and the Most Valuable Player award at Batang Pinoy 2023.
Young Lomuntad Makes National Team Debut
Ziva Alexci Lomuntad, a Grade 8 student at Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao, will make her debut as a member of the Philippine team. “I feel honored to represent my country and privileged to compete with the best of the best of Southeast Asia,” she said. She noted that open water races require quick adaptation to changing conditions. “Open water swimming is different because conditions can change anytime depending on the waves, currents and weather,” she said.
Lomuntad has trained in swimming for the past three years and has won medals in regional, national and international competitions, including the Asian Open Schools Invitational Swimming Competition in Thailand and the Palarong Pambansa. To prepare for her first international stint with the national team, she plans to combine pool training and open water sessions to improve her endurance and pacing.
Swimmers Aim for Strong Performance in August
All three swimmers said they hope to gain valuable experience and deliver strong performances for the Philippines against some of the region’s best open water athletes. Del Rio also emphasized the importance of learning to swim, especially in an archipelagic country like the Philippines. “I think swimming is an essential skill that should be learned while we’re young. Our country is surrounded by bodies of water, and that carries risks, especially for those who do not know how to swim,” he said.
As they prepare for the August championships, the three Dabawenyos carry not only their personal goals but also the hopes of representing Davao City and the Philippines on the regional stage.
