INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines – Sarangani province is made famous by talks of Manny Pacquiao running for public office here next year. But outside of the local boxing hero, the province is waiting to be discovered by outdoor sports enthusiasts.

Traveling by van for about an hour and a half from General Santos City (Pacquiao’s hometown, his wife Jinkee is from Sarangani) leads to New La Union village in the municipality of Maitum.

New La Union is the gateway to Pangi River, which offers white water tubing as tourist attraction.

White water tubing started in 2003 and was the brainchild of Vincent Yabes, scion of Maitum’s former mayor, and attracts around 250 guests every month, according to tourism operations assistant Arlex Narte

So what exactly is white water tubing? Think of it as white water rafting, only instead of a raft you sit on a “tube” made of recycled rubber tires used by trucks that end up looking like bloated black donuts.

A guide sits in the other attached tube at the back. So unlike a raft wherein you find yourself paddling in a group, you are at the mercy of your guide as both of you traverse the waters of Pangi.

Thus, white water tubing isn’t for the faint-hearted.

“Sometimes, there's a tendency for the tube to turn over. So, we remind the guest not to panic and hold the rubber handles attached on the tube firmly,” said Narte.

Aside from the required life jacket and helmet, it is also advisable to wear sandals with rubber straps instead of slippers unless you want the river to claim your Havaianas as a souvenir. Goggles are also recommended for those with sensitive eyes.

The ride stretches for about 1.6 kilometers and the adrenalin rush lasts for about half and hour. Expect to end up soaking wet after but then again, those hungry for action will surely do not mind embarking on a wet and wild nature trip.