Paragliding launched in Oslob

MANILA, Philippines — Oslob town in southern Cebu will not only be known for its whale shark watching as one local organization introduces paragliding there in a bid to further boost the province's tourism industry.

But this will not only be notable in Cebu, organizers target to make the province as the center for paragliding in the Visayas.

“This event is significant for it is the first paragliding in Oslob and I believe in the entire province of Cebu. It’s our honor that Oslob is chosen as the perfect location for paragliding,” Elizabeth Benologa, Oslob municipal tourism officer, told The FREEMAN.

Paragliding is a recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits on a harness suspended below a fabric wing.

Paragliding events in the country, so far, are only active in some areas in Luzon and Mindanao regions.

Benologa said the municipal government will surely help in promoting paragliding by including it in the town’s tourism plans.

“It can help the tourism in Oslob because it opens and creates more opportunities for Oslobanons as well as in Cebu province as a whole. As a new tourism project, expect more economic progress and changing the lives of the locals,” she said.

At least 30 professional paragliding pilots from across the world tried the test flights yesterday as part of the two-day soft opening. The “friendly fly-in” event dubbed as “Paint the Sky” will run until today.

Only the professional paragliding pilots are allowed to do the test flights.

Local and foreign tourists witnessed the event participated by paragliding enthusiasts from different countries like France, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Professional paragliding instructor Malcolm Vargas discovered the town of Oslob as capable of holding such sport.

Vargas stayed in Oslob for about two years studying the town’s weather conditions and topography.

He said the renowned town has several stable thermal areas that are vital for having a paragliding site; this unique feature makes for a suitable staging area for this sport.

Vargas also intends to create a sustainable paragliding community in the town and make Cebu the center for paragliding in the Visayas. He hopes Cebu will soon host an international paragliding competition.

Vargas is set to form the first paragliding group in the region. (FREEMAN)