By Cynthia De Castro
AUGUST 31, 2007
Asianjournal.com
13-year-old Filipina Makes
the Ultimate Escape from Alcatraz
ALCATRAZ or The Rock is one of the biggest demanding swim. Elisha used the swim to
tourist magnets and most famous landmarks raise funds for the poorest of the poor back
of San Francisco. The island’s mystique, which in her home country of the Philippines.
was created primarily by books and motion “It’s really cool for me to finish this race, but
pictures, continues to lure millions of people there is something more important than that.
from all over the world to see firsthand where My family has been blessed to move from the
America housed its most notorious criminals, Philippines to the USA about 10 years ago
including gangsters Al Capone and Machine and it’s my turn to bless others. I’m swimming
Gun Kelly. The toughest Federal prison of to raise funds to help the poorest of the poor
America has been built to make sure it’s the back in my home country, through Gawad
criminals’ last stop. And sharks around the Kalinga,” Elisha announced.
island provide the additional “guards” to keep Elisha trained for seven months — three
the prisoners from reaching the other side. days of 5:30am swim training each week
They say no one has ever and can ever — and additional training on weekends. With
escape from Alcatraz. Not until criminals an initial fundraising target of $1,700, she
Frank Morris (immortalized by Clint Eastwood succeeded in raising $2,140, a sum which will
in the movie Escape from Alcatraz) and benefit families in Mediatrix GK Village in San
Clarence and John Anglin were able to make Miguel, Bulacan.
the ultimate escape from Alcatraz Island. Elisha is attending Valley Christian School.
That night of June 12, 1962 would be the last She will be in 9th grade this coming school
anyone ever saw of Morris and the Anglin
swim is not for novices. This event is for
year and has just been admitted to the
Brothers.
experienced open-water swimmers only.”
school’s Junior Varsity volleyball team. An
Based on that claim, an exciting swimming
In this year’s event, a 13-year old girl
active member of her church, Elisha plays
event has been held every year — the
was among those who made the ultimate
keyboard and bass guitar in the worship team
Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim. For the past 15 years,
escape from Alcatraz and she’s a Filipina!
and helps teach Sunday school to toddlers.
swimmers come from around the world to
Elisha Clerigo, living in Livermore, California,
Elisha and her family will visit the Mediatrix
attempt the swim no island prisoner had ever
successfully completed the swim from
GK Village and meet those she has helped
successfully completed. The event invitation
Alcatraz Island to San Francisco Aquatic
later this year.
reads, “PLAN NOW TO ESCAPE IN 2007!? Every
Center last June 10.
Her hard-won achievement for others
swimmer dreams of making the ULTIMATE
Though Elisha’s efforts brought a great
is summed up in a verse in her website: “I
ESCAPE from the island prison in the middle
sense of achievement, her ultimate goal
have strength for all things in Christ Who
of the San Francisco Bay! Please note — this
was even greater than completing the
empowers me” - Philippians 4:13 (AJ)
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