Can you swim?

@sol_cee (38224)
Philippines
February 22, 2023 5:19pm CST
Living in an archipelago like the Philippines, most people would think that all Filipinos could swim. With the big blue ocean around us, there’s no reason not to know how to swim, right? Wrong. I had to correct someone when she assumed that everyone in my country can swim. In my family alone, only my brothers can swim. The rest of us mostly do what’s in the photo above. How about you? At what age did you learn to swim?
29 people like this
33 responses
@LeaPea2417 (36261)
• Toccoa, Georgia
22 Feb 23
I learned to swim at age 9. I took swimming lessons at the local YMCA.
4 people like this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
22 Feb 23
YMCA lessons are free?
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36261)
• Toccoa, Georgia
23 Feb 23
@sol_cee I forget. That was many years ago. I am not sure how much my Mom paid.
• Indonesia
22 Feb 23
Ahaha, I can swim in the style like the photo above. How about you @MrDenata @Ifa225 @Icydoll?
3 people like this
@MrDenata (12181)
• Indonesia
23 Feb 23
I can swim well, not like in the picture ofc LOL
2 people like this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
@MrDenata what’s wrong with the photo?
2 people like this
• Indonesia
23 Feb 23
@MrDenata That's good.
@ShyBear88 (59261)
• Sterling, Virginia
23 Feb 23
Lots of people all over the world don't know how to swim. I live in the US and many people thing that all people here know how to swim or if we live near rivers, lakes, ponds, or beach that we much know how to swim. Not true. Learning to swim is something that parents to choose to do or not do with our kids. I kind of learned how to swim but not that well I'm not a strong swimmer. Water freaks me out like I'm scared of it. My mom still tells stories of how I was a baby and when she would give me a bath in the sink, I would scream like someone was trying to kill me. Yeah, still to this day at age of 34 with 3 kids I'm scared of water. I don't like big bodies of water; I don't like the beach unless I'm hanging out in the sand.
1 person likes this
@ShyBear88 (59261)
• Sterling, Virginia
23 Feb 23
@sol_cee YOu might laugh but my mom was worried the military police was going to show up.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
Omg, I can imagine you as a baby crying like that when you were given a bath
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
27 Feb 23
@ShyBear88 why military police?
@askme123 (6150)
23 Feb 23
That picture is very funny.I learnt to swim from high school. However I am still afraid to go out in the deep.
1 person likes this
@askme123 (6150)
23 Feb 23
@sol_cee So what facility do they train people to swim in your country?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
@askme123 my husband said he learned how to swim because his father threw him to the sea when he was a kid. They lived near the beach. Others maybe pool?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
We didn’t have swimming lessons in my high school. Maybe in private school they have that here
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137251)
• United States
22 Feb 23
I don't know how old I was when I learned to swim. My family spent a lot of time in a river near our home... I know nieces and nephews were taught as soon as they could walk so they stood less chance of drowning if they escaped a parent and made it into the water. I assume we were all taught like that. I taught Pretty when she was around 3 years old to swim. Her mom would get in the water but couldn't swim and didn't want to learn.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137251)
• United States
23 Feb 23
@sol_cee Some swimming schools here put babies in the water. They instinctively know how to swim.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
@DaddyEvil I saw something like that on YouTube too which is kinda amazing
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
22 Feb 23
My husband said he learned how to swim because kids in their neighborhood were thrown in the sea by their fathers. That’s such a shock for me but it definitely is true here especially in the coastal areas
1 person likes this
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
It is true for those that live near bodies of water, like rivers and beaches. They learn to swim among themselves -siblings, cousins, and friends. What I'm curious about is do people in other countries also do night swimming at the beach. I know people in the province do.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137251)
• United States
23 Feb 23
Yes, we do. Pretty and I often spent nights at the lake just swimming and floating on the water.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
Maybe we can ask @DaddyEvil
1 person likes this
@MGjhaud (23069)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
Well enough not to drown and die. I went swimming last month and am too relieved and happy to know I still can float at least. It was my first swim since my leg injury.
1 person likes this
@MGjhaud (23069)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
I did. It was refreshing to see the beach after such a long time. Have you been to Samal?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
@MGjhaud yesss but what I don’t like about Samal is the super long queue to the barge
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
That’s nice! Did you go to Samal?
1 person likes this
@ifa225 (14364)
• Indonesia
24 Feb 23
I can swim.. But only in my bed You know.. Like a simulation..
1 person likes this
@ifa225 (14364)
• Indonesia
28 Feb 23
@sol_cee you don't worry about me?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
28 Feb 23
@ifa225 no because you are flexible
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
27 Feb 23
Lol I worry about your bed
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (454910)
• Switzerland
23 Feb 23
No, I cannot swim, I suffer of aquaphobia.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (454910)
• Switzerland
24 Feb 23
@sol_cee Since I was old enough to realize that I feared water.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
27 Feb 23
@LadyDuck I can imagine. My friend’s son is aquaphobic too.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
I’m sorry to hear that Anna. When did you know you’re aqua phobic?
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83270)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
24 Feb 23
I'm a deep sea swimmer. I learned swimming at age 7.We live near 8 beaches.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
27 Feb 23
Oh wow are you Dyesebel?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
28 Feb 23
@cacay1 where’s Dugong?
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83270)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
28 Feb 23
@sol_cee yes I'm Marina.
1 person likes this
23 Feb 23
I can swim my elder son and wife can swim. But my mother cannot swim.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
I guess she can just use a floater?
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
27 Feb 23
@sathviksouvik like a surfboard?
24 Feb 23
@sol_cee yes jb girl she swims with a board
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129074)
• Israel
23 Feb 23
@sol_cee I am not a great swimmer but can swim somewhat. I cannot remember what age I did not but I do not go in the water when I am at the beach.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
Why not?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
17 Mar 23
@Hannihar ohhh totally different here. People here are afraid to go tan because we already have darker complexion
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129074)
• Israel
24 Feb 23
@sol_cee I prefer to get sun instead. I may go in a little bit because I am at the beach but not much. The sun is more important to me. I have been tanning since I was a little girl so no problems there.
1 person likes this
@Adie04 (17364)
23 Feb 23
I can swim but I haven't swim for almost 4-6 years I guess. I don't know if I can swim again.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
Oh, may I know why?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
@Adie04 ahh yes, but I prefer going to the beach than the pool
1 person likes this
@Adie04 (17364)
23 Feb 23
@sol_cee Busy with other life activities and not having transport to that swimming pool.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (13061)
• Hong Kong
23 Feb 23
I learned swimming when I was 10. I enjoy swimming. I haven't done that since the Pandemic. I may swim again in the coming summer.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
27 Feb 23
@Beestring oh wow I didn’t know that. White sand beaches too?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
That’s something to be excited about. In HK?
1 person likes this
@Beestring (13061)
• Hong Kong
23 Feb 23
@sol_cee Yes, in Hong Kong. There are many beaches here.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53652)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Feb 23
I can sort of swim . . . I can float and do strokes, but can't swim underwater and I can't tread water. I took lessons when I was 14 - I hated it - especially since the instructor told me she started lessons late too at age 5 .
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
lol to that instructor! C’mon let’s go to her house
1 person likes this
@much2say (53652)
• Los Angeles, California
25 Feb 23
@sol_cee I really wanted to smack her !
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
27 Feb 23
1 person likes this
@rakski (112993)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
I learn swimming around 10-11years old.
1 person likes this
@rakski (112993)
• Philippines
24 Feb 23
@sol_cee both. but I am a bit hesitant to swim far in an open water as I am not really a good swimmer still
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
27 Feb 23
@rakski you can easily spot me where I am - just on the beach side lollll
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
Where? Pool or sea?
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
23 Feb 23
I was never a great swimmer, but did body surf in California when I was a teenager. Not a good idea.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
Ooppss why?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
27 Feb 23
@JamesHxstatic undertows and rip tides are so scary
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
24 Feb 23
@sol_cee Due to surprisingly big waves occasionally, but mostly due to undertows which can pull you out to far and rip tides which can move you sideways or out to sea, very strong currents.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99437)
• Atlanta, Georgia
23 Feb 23
I learned to swim early. We lived in the country and swam in the rivers and creeks.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
Ohhh those sweet days. Did someone teach you?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
@RubyHawk that must have been super fun
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99437)
• Atlanta, Georgia
23 Feb 23
@sol_cee No, we just jumped in and swam.
1 person likes this
@Fa_Maverick (9458)
• Australia
23 Feb 23
I learnt very young. Represented the state twice
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
Oh wow, that’s awesome! Are you a professional swimmer now?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
@Fa_Maverick Couldn’t you do both?
1 person likes this
• Australia
23 Feb 23
@sol_cee no, I went to school instead
1 person likes this
@MrDenata (12181)
• Indonesia
23 Feb 23
I can swim S, i just learned the proper swim 7 years ago i think
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
What’s proper?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
23 Feb 23
@MrDenata (12181)
• Indonesia
23 Feb 23
@sol_cee i mean the right way
1 person likes this