THE city of Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte, renowned as the Shrine City of the Philippines, has resumed its East Sunday activities after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
The Easter Sunday activities included Body Building and Physique Battle, face painting contest, and Easter egg artwork competition.
"Our yearly activities every Easter Sunday is back with a vengeance after its hibernation for two years due to the pandemic," said Apple Marie Agolong, Dapitan City tourism officer.
Agolong said the Body Building and Physique Battle is just one among the exciting competitions and contests that Dapitan City offers to its guests, visitors and tourists, living it up to its tagline "Mas Pachada Dapitan (More Beautiful Dapitan)."
The body builders came all the way from Manila, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Ozamiz, Plaridel, Zamboanga City, Pagadian City, Iloilo City and from the different local government units (LGUs) of the Province of Zamboanga del Norte.
"Now it was back and the contenders actually came from different parts of the Philippines," Agolong added.
In the open physique category, Joey Napa from Manila won as the champion (Best in Chest).
The other winners are: first runner-up, Vigor Ayuda of Cagayan de Oro City (Best in Back); second runner-up, Reyland Moli of Zamboanga City (Best in Abs); third runner-up, John Cena Duran of Pagadian City; and fourth runner-up, Jun Salinas of Pagadian City (Best in Posing ability).
The winners in the LGU category are: champion, Jerrymae Laput of Roxas municipality (Best in Back); first runner-up (Best in Abs); second runner-up, Justin Maligro of Katipunan; third runner-up, Lorenzo Adrian Luyac of Dipolog City; and fourth runner-up, Adonis Rabor of Dipolog City.
In the Ladies category, the winners are the following: champion, Ritchelle Gales of Iloilo City (Best in Abs); first runner-up, Mary Ann Dioquino of Iligan city; second runner-up, Fleendy Paca of Malaybalay City; third runner-up, Aljuha Mama of Pagadian City (Best in Chest); fourth runner-up, Keszlee Abubakar of Bukidnon; fifth runner-up Ej Retaza of Cagayan de Oro City (Best in posing ability/photogenic); and, sixth runner-up, Marjie Cervantes of Cagayan de Oro City (Best in Back).
The winners received cash prizes, plaques, certificates, sash, and food supplement.
Meanwhile, in the face painting contest, the winners are all from Dapitan City and they are as follows: first place, Mariel Austria; second place, Aldren Leo; and third place, Ma. Junc Jarola.
The winners in the Easter Egg Artwork Competition are also all from Dapitan City. They are: first place, Nikah Joyce Gomez; second place, Shadwell Palpagan; and third place, Aldrene Quicio.
The winners in the face painting and Easter Egg Artwork contests received cash prizes and plaques while consolation prizes were given to the non-winning participants.
Dapitan City is known as the tourism capital of Zamboanga Peninsula where sports tourism of different kinds is being introduced and held every month. (SunStar Zamboanga)