click here for more pictures

The most awaited IBTOR Festival – the Official Sports Festival of Rosales which won as the Best Tourism Event under Sports Adventure Category 2009 and 2011 celebrated its 4th year of existence. The IBTOR Festival last December 16-17, 2011 was hailed to be another success.

This year’s festival was accompanied by various events. This is to lengthen the celebration and to give our people and visitors more reason to attend the festival. The first day, December 16, was the Kite Fest Exhibition. It was participated by the group of Mr. Orlando T.D Ongkiko of the Kite Association of the Philippines and Dr. Delfin F. Pilones Jr. of the Kite Association of Santiago City, Isabela. This event was held at the Golf Course Area in Brgy. San Angel. Aside from the Kite Flying, we also had the flight shows of remote control aero planes and boats at the Acop Dam. In addition to those exhibition shows, we also launched the IBTOR Trail for mountain biking and invited mountain bikers from Rosales to try the route. Municipal Scouting Camporal was incorporated during these days for the maximum participation of the Rosalenians.

On the second day, December 17 was the highlight of the festival which is the IBTOR Challenge 2011. The kick-off program was held at the Acop Dam in Brgy. Acop, Rosales. This year’s guest of honor and speaker was Director Martin Valera of the Department of Tourism Regional Office Present also to grace the event are the Members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Rosales, Barangay Captains, LGU Employees, Balikbayans, visitors, and enthusiast spectators. Immediately after the short program the triathlon action started. First is the swimming across the 350-M distance of the Acop Dam with the use of the banana log, followed by the 11.5-KM trail run in the rough and mountainous area of the Rosales Eco Site.  The trail is a newly opened area that is suitable not only for off-road running but also for off-road biking. After which is the modified cycling with a distance of 15-KM where the participants used our indigenous Pedicabs. And finally, the last leg which is the buddy run where the team/pair was tied by a rope in each opposite hand in order for them to finish the race together.

This year’s IBTOR Challenge was participated by 72 registered pairs, 57 pairs for level 1 and 15 pairs for level 2. The total number of finishers were 57 pairs, 46 pairs comprises the local and 11 pairs for the level 2. Athletes all the way from Bicol Region, Cebu and Davao also tried the challenge. Female participants also joined making the challenge not only for robust males but also for tough women. The distance of the challenge was increased this year with a total distance of 37 kilometers making the route and trail more complex with the newly opened IBTOR Trail which includes a run alongside of the hills.

Awarding was held at night with a victory and street party to complete the event. Live band and beer-busting celebration courtesy of San Miguel Beer were there to intensify the mood of the festivity. Mayor Ricardo Revita together with the past IBTOR President Mr. Jeremy Sua and the present IBTOR President Mr. Patrick Revita were there to grace the event. Also present during the awarding are the past reigning beauties of the BB. Rosales. Also the Barangay Officials, the SK Officials and LGU Employees showed their support and participation all throughout the course of the event. Truly, this town’s festival is well participated and joined by everyone.

Top finishers of the challenge in level 1 were: 2nd Runner Up: Rene De Vera and Rolando Nazareno of Brgy. San Pedro West (2:48:49); 1st Runner Up: Jessie Sombrito and Rodel Dela Peña of Brgy. San Pedro West (2:46:02); and the Ibtor Champion: Frederick Raymundo and Martin Alejo of Brgy. Rabago (2:34:11). In level 2 were: 2nd Runner Up: Alex Balanag and Robinson Esteves of Tri-Clark Team (2:30:13); 1st Runner Up: August Benedicto and Irinio Raquin of Team PMI Colleges Inc (2:22:29); and the Ibtor Champion: Jefferson Valdez and John Leerams Chicano of Tri-Clark Team (2:21:45). Special awards were given to the Women Teams who have placed 5th and 7th in the level 2 category (Mirasol Abad and Rowena Valdez; and Miscelle Gilbuena and Nancy Papaya) who was able to finish the challenge and outshines some of the men participants. Most of the participants in the level 2 were members of the Philippine Team who have joined and bagged numerous awards in the various field of athletics.