Mission accomplished. Open-water swimmer Cleevan Kayne Alegres made history Monday when he became the first person to swim around Mactan Island. The 5’3” swimmer nicknamed “Little Merman” completed the lung-busting 42-kilometer swim in 17 hours, 37 minutes, and 35 seconds. The 25-year-old Alegres, a native of Barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City, started swimming at 5 p.m. last Sunday at the Liberty Shrine in Barangay Mactan.

Cordova, C. (2021, April 27). 'Little Merman' completed historic Mactan Island swim. Tempo, pp. 1, 7.