Jay-R Esquivel represented San Juan, La Union, finishing 3rd in the 19th Siargao National Surfing Cup.
Photo: Gaps Sabuero
The newly organized Philippine Surfing Championship Tour (PSCT) – the country’s first premier surfing league – has successfully capped off their first ever sanctioned event. And what better place than the world-renowned surf break, Cloud 9 in Siargao, to kick off their journey? Commonly known as the “Surfing Capital of the Philippines,” the notoriously powerful right-hand reef break was their first stop of four in this year’s inaugural tour.
Guided by the World Surf League, the PSCT’s main goal is to create a professional surfing platform that follows the International Surfing Association’s (ISA) standards of competition while preparing Filipino athletes for the international stage. They also wish to promote friendship, unity and healthy competition within the community.
Male and female surfers from the various provinces, towns, and islands of Siargao, La Union, Baler, Zambales, Catanduanes, Samar, Cebu, Davao, Lanuza and other areas will continue to compete at their second stop in the province of Surigao del Sur. Better known as Lanuza, the small surf town that offers some of the best surfing in the Philippines, will serve as host in early November. Baler, the capital of Aurora Province located on the east coast of Luzon, will host the last week of the month and into December, and then the fourth and final stop will follow at La Union. Although the first leg in Siargao didn’t include female competitors, the remaining three will include women’s and longboard divisions.
Siargao local, John Mark Tokong put on a high flying act during the 19th Siargao National Surfing Cup and shared a 3rd place finish.
Photo: Gaps Sabuero
Luke Landrigan, President of the PSCT, wants to support local communities and families to benefit their economies and their livelihood. “I also want to help provinces,” said Landrigan when interviewed, “that have so much potential to be a surf tourism area.” With over 7,000 islands in the Philippines and countless surf breaks, their hope is to reach out to other areas who wish to get involved. As Landrigan said, “We want as many locations as possible. We want to get every surf province involved.” The PSCT would like to add more tour stops next year to continue developing and attracting others to become part of their growing surf culture.
Landrigan hopes that by bringing more awareness to the sport and by promoting Filipino surfers as world-class athletes, it may appeal to sponsors, creating opportunities for juniors and other up-and-coming surfers to lead the way into their country’s future of surfing.
The passionate support of the Filipino surfing community is a true reflection of their pride, camaraderie, and compassion for their people. With the upcoming 2020 Summer Olympic Games to include competitive surfing in the mix, you can be sure that the Philippine nation will have their talented homegrown surfers and supporting fans ready and willing to compete with the best in the world.
