AT AN AGE when many people choose a slower pace of life, Engr. Bernan G. Certeza continues to challenge the limits of endurance—diving into open waters, crossing finish lines, and inspiring generations to live healthier, more purposeful lives.
At 84, Certeza has become more than an athlete. He is a living testament that discipline, faith, and compassion can keep a person strong regardless of age.
For Certeza, staying fit is not about chasing records or collecting medals. It is about proving that growing older should never mean giving up on living actively.
His secret is simple: swim.
He began swimming in his 30s and has faithfully maintained the routine for more than five decades, spending three days each week in the water. Today, he remains one of the country’s oldest active competitive swimmers, often competing against athletes several years younger.
His passion has taken him beyond Philippine shores.
In December 2025, Certeza represented the country in the Oceanman Global Swim Series in Dubai, where he competed in the 75-years-and-above division.
Among the six participants in his category, he stood out—not only because he was the oldest, but because he continued to challenge himself at an age when most people have long retired from competitive sports.
Months earlier, in April 2025, he qualified for the international event after completing the Oceanman qualifying race in Siargao. Battling strong ocean currents alongside more than 500 swimmers from 35 countries, Certeza completed the grueling two-kilometer open-water swim in two hours and five minutes.
But perhaps one of his most remarkable accomplishments came in August 2024, when he successfully finished the IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon in Davao City as part of the BCBP Brothers relay team together with fellow members of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP).
Completing one of the world’s toughest endurance races at 82 years old was a milestone that inspired many Filipinos, especially senior citizens, to believe that age should never define one’s potential.
Swimming for a cause
For Certeza, every stroke in the water carries a deeper purpose.
Rather than swimming solely for personal achievement, he has used his athletic pursuits to help improve the lives of children.
In 2023 and 2024, he partnered with SOS Children’s Village Iloilo, using his swimming events to raise awareness and generate funds for children under the organization’s care.
Following his successful finish in the IRONMAN 70.3, his daughter, Gayle Certeza, shared that the family’s greatest victory was not crossing the finish line but helping provide support for children who needed it most.
“With your help, we were able to raise funds for SOS Children’s Village Iloilo,” she wrote in a social media post thanking those who supported her father throughout the event.
Lessons beyond the finish line
As families celebrate Father’s Day, Certeza’s story serves as a reminder that a father’s legacy is built not only through the success he achieves but through the values he lives every day.
Even at 84, Engr. Bernan Certeza continues to swim—not against time, but toward a life filled with meaning, generosity, and hope./PN
