CEPMO to stage fish catching competition

May 28, 2022 Metro BLISTT

Every 5 in the morning, a mustachioed retiree from the United States who is toting two fishing rods, a canister of baits, and hooks would stop by the pier of the observation deck of the Burnham Lake and for more than an hour would try to lure fishes using different baits.
On a good day, he could get as much as six. But on rare occasions, he goes home empty-handed. On the day Public Information Office photographer Neil Clark Ongchangco dropped by, Rafael Serrano caught two.
One of which, however, died, while the much bigger second fish, another tilapia, survived the minute stay at the metal flooring of the pier where Serrano measured the length and later released it.
It is caught and released for fishing enthusiast Serrano, who picked up the hobby while working ahead in the quality assurance department of an American medical company in the early detection of any cancer in New York, United States.
Serrano had been in the US for 35 years after finishing a degree in civil engineering at the Baguio Colleges Foundation, now the University of the Cordilleras.
But while on vacation here in March of 2020, a few weeks after Baguio and the entire Luzon were declared under total lockdown, he contracted Covid-19.
It was worse for Serrano, who was planning to retire at 62 when he stayed for 45 days in the hospital where he also contracted the virus several times, thus the long stay where he fought for his life and won, thanks to local health workers.
After getting discharged, Serrano became one of the more vocal advocates of Covid prevention like staying at home and wearing face masks and shields every time one is in a public place.
And so he became quite close with mayor Benjamin Magalong. But his plan of retiring when he turns 62 was hastened as he wanted to enjoy more of life. He retired and last February became a fixture at the Burnham Lake where he fishes early mornings because
“I noticed that the fish at the lake are near the steel pier.” “Of course I was flagged by the security guards stationed there several times and informed them that I have my permit to fish,” said Serrano. He had been granted a permit by City Environments and Parks Management Office head Rhenan Diwas.
“And I fish then release what I caught. But then sometimes the fish dies and so I usually bring it to the Tourism Police maybe for their breakfast or lunch,” said Serrano. Serrano is now one of the more vocal advocates of fishing and is encouraging locals to take it as a hobby or even as a sport.
“I have been telling the mayor and asked him to join me. Maybe we can put up a fishing rod rental of course for a fee. Maybe use my rods for that purpose and even conduct clinics for newbies,” said Serrano in a mix of Iloko and English.
And he is quite fascinated that his dream of having more locals take the hobby could be realized with the CEPMO announcing that it will be staging a fish catching competition on June 12 as part of its celebration of the Saleng Festival.
Asked that he help manage the event, Serrano said, with a laugh, that he is more interested in competing. The fishing event on June 12 will be a one hour catching event from 2PM, when fish are in abundance at the said portion of the lake.
“There are two instances when fishes are at that portion of the lake, at past 5AM until past 6, then at 2PM until 3PM,” explained Serrano.
He further said that fishes at the lake, that include carp and catfish, are rather docile. “I am used to struggle with my catch and wear them out before they surrender but here, the fishes do not give a struggle. And you are not even aware that you have already a catch until you give a pull on your rod.”
The Burnham Lake Fishing Competition on June 12 will be the culmination of the four event planned sports competition that includes the fun run on June 5, that will officially kick off the four month festival.
The CEPMO, in cooperation with the Media for Sports Development, will also stage a go cart race and boat racing events all at the park.
“We will have sports events that are eco-friendly,” said Paul Rillorta of the City Sports Development Office. The CEPMO and the city launched the Saleng Festival last Monday with the department unveiling a landscaped garden at the City Hall grounds stage.
The second Saleng Festival has adopted the 2022 World Environment Day theme of “Only One Earth, “highlighting the need to live sustainably in harmony with nature by bringing transformative changes – through policies and our choices 0 towards cleaner, greener lifestyles.”
Pigeon Lobien/ABN