Black Eyed Peas star joins celebs, champs in Ironman
Showbiz celebrities along with returning champions and contenders will see action in next Sunday’s Ironman Triathlon 70.3 in Metro Cebu.
Organizers said apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas signified his participation in the Ironman 70.3’s bike leg.
He and other local celebrities will join three-time Ironman Philippines champion Pete Jacobs in the whole-day event.
Other big names in the event are Chris McCormack, a two-time Ironman World Champion, Caroline Steffen of Alaska Team, the defending women’s champion and Belinda Granger, the 12-time Ironman Distance Triathlon Champion.
They will be joined by celebrities like first-timer Isabelle Daza, Cebuano star Mateo Guidicelli, Solenn Heusaff and her brother Erwan, Drew Arellano, “Kuya Kim” Atienza, Sen. Pia Cayetano, broadcaster Raffy Tima and actor Piolo Pascual.
The participation of apl.de.ap, also one of the four judges in “The Voice Philippines” program was earlier kept under wraps by Ironman event organizers. The Ironman race consists of a 1.9 km swim, a 90 km bike ride and a 21 km run.
Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Officer Hembler Mendoza said they are 90 percent finished with their hosting preparations for the event.
Frank Brazil of the Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Systems Management said they have done their part in disseminating the re-routing plans to the public next Sunday.
These include reminding hotel owners and tourist bus agencies not to use large buses in transporting clients to and from the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
About 17 billeting venues are being guarded by military and police contingents augmented by barangay tanods and student volunteers. Medical stations are also designated in key routes.
A day before the event, the Alaska Ironkids Triathlon will be held for kids aged six years old to 14 years old.
Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el Jr., outgoing Cebu City police chief, said they have finalized security preparations for the event. Correspondents Carine M. Asutilla, Chito Aragon and Norman V. Mendoza
