Kiudkad Resort hosts intense 6-Day WASAR training

By Ryan Mostar

SIRUMA, CAMARINES SUR --- In a remarkable display of endurance, discipline, and coastal safety advocacy, Kiudkad Resort recently concluded a six-day Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) training program in collaboration with the Philippine Coast Guard Region V Safety Operations Group (SOG) and the Siruma Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Forget hammocks and fruit shakes — this was no ordinary week at the beach.

Instead, trainees faced open-water endurance swims of up to 1.6 kilometers, 90-second breath-hold drills, and daily physical training that began at 4:00 AM. The most daunting challenge? Being dropped nearly two kilometers offshore and swimming back to land — an exercise that pushed both body and mind to their limits.

The program brought together participants from the Kiudkad Resort staff and the Camp Sirums delegation, who collectively earned the nickname “Kushguard Special Forces.” Whether the name sticks or not, the camaraderie forged through saltwater, sweat, and sheer will is unmistakable.

“You either sink, swim, or become a Kushguard,” said one participant. “This wasn’t your typical resort week. We weren’t sipping coconuts — we were swallowing seawater and calling it character development.”

The initiative was spearheaded by Randall Dagooc, the visionary founder and proprietor of Kiudkad, who described the experience as a milestone in both leadership development and local disaster preparedness.

“Out here, the ocean gives life — but it can also take it. This training was about learning how to respect the sea, respond to emergencies, and most of all, build trust in each other,” Dagooc said.

The Philippine Coast Guard SOG led the water-based training under the supervision of CPO Jay Sabdao, the course director, and LTJG Jerson Cervantes, deputy commander of the Coast Guard SOG. Their leadership combined military-grade precision with hands-on guidance that kept the trainees safe, sharp, and constantly challenged.

The Siruma BFP also played a crucial role in the program. SF02 Ricky Rebuya led the instruction on life-saving techniques and emergency response — vital skills that deepened the trainees’ understanding of rescue work both in and out of the water.

While the training was grueling, participants say the payoff was more than physical. Teamwork, resilience, and mental fortitude emerged as key takeaways — along with the occasional sunburn and sea story.

One phrase echoed among the group at the end of the event:

“One team. One breath. One hell of a week.”

With Class 01 of the so-called Kushguard Special Forces now complete, organizers hint that this may only be the beginning. Whether future classes will face the same offshore drop remains to be seen — but those who dare will carry the same mission: to rise, to lead, and to serve when it matters most.