Tuesday, October 10, 2006 After swim in dirty channel, Justin shows no sign of sickness: dad
JUSTIN Junio, the five year old boy from Pangasian who conquered the Mactan Channel last Sunday, was oblivious to the fame that he carved for himself.
"Parang walang nagyari. Para lang talaga siyang naglalaro. Tapos ng laro, nagutom, kumain and naglaro uli (It’s as if nothing happened. It looked like he was just playing. After that, he got hungry, ate, and played again)," his mother Maria Velina said.
His father, retired Air Force colonel Florencio Junio, said that after the historic swim, his son went back to being naughty, had a huge lunch and, unsurprisingly, jumped back into the hotel's pool, swimming again until early evening.
Hungry
"He said he was so hungry so he ate a lot. Then swam again because there are others who are asking for demonstration," Florencio said.
Swimming six kilometers of treacherous and murky waters for almost two hours could make anyone hungry. For the feat last Sunday, Justin could possibly ink a new record in the Guinness World Records for being the youngest swimmer to ever cross a channel. The current holder is a seven-year-old American, Braxton Bildrey.
Colonel Junio, however, said that despite their son's energy, they are still observing him, in case the dirty waters have adverse effects on him.
"So far, there are no signs that tell us that the polluted water had made him sick," Florencio said.
Florencio added that prior to the swim, he already brought up the concern to Justin's team of doctors.
Preparation
"I made mention that his body might react badly because of the pollution level of Mactan Channel. Baka hindi niya kayanin.
So the doctors prepared him for it, to preempt any bad effects that will be brought about by the pollution," Florencio added.
Four months before the big day, Justin was taking supplements that had fortified his immune system.
"He was taking vitamins, iron, anti-allergies and he was closely monitored by his doctors," Florencio added.
Florencio said that Justin's vomiting before the swim was brought about by the excitement and overeating the night before.
Rest day
"Saturday was supposed to be his rest day. Several media people came over and asked him to demonstrate. It took so long and he got hungry, so he ate a lot, that’s why he vomited in the morning," said Florencio.
Justin's team of doctors include pediatrician Lorna Ramos-Abad, Sports Medicine specialist Edgar Efemio III, Child Development Specialist Lourdes Tanchangco, sports nutritionist Sanerose Orbeta, conditioning coach Jose Jimbo Saret and head of PAF medical corps Edgar Ventura.
The team had examined Justin right after the swim.
Velina, who acknowledges the possibilities that lie ahead of her son, wants Justin to return to his normal daily life.
