Filipino surfers Rogelio Esquivel Jr. and Jomarie Ebueza are making waves on the global stage, with recent performances signaling a new era where qualifying for World Surf League (WSL) World Tour events is no longer out of reach for local athletes.
Esquivel, fresh from a career-best run at the prestigious Lexus US Open of Surfing – International Men’s Longboard Tour 2025, carved his way into the semifinals at Huntington Beach, California, from July 26 to 30.
The 27-year-old standout clinched third place after bowing to world No. 2 and 14-year surfing veteran Taylor Jensen of the United States. Jensen would go on to finish runner-up to Australia’s current world No. 1, Kai Elice Flint.
That breakthrough result propelled Esquivel to No. 3 in the WSL longboard rankings, a remarkable leap from his previous eighth-place standing in 2023.
“It feels great to be competing with the best in the world and holding my own,” Esquivel said. “Every heat is a learning experience, and it pushes me to work harder.”
Ebueza, meanwhile, showed flashes of brilliance despite bowing out in the heats against British contender Ben Skinner, settling for a 17th-place finish. The result still positions him for valuable ranking points as the tour unfolds.
For their coach, former national surfer Luke Landrigan, these performances are milestones.
“We’re climbing in the rankings and getting into bigger events,” Landrigan said. “Before, it was really hard to travel and join international competitions. Now, with more WSL-sanctioned events happening in the Philippines, our surfers have better opportunities to qualify without facing the same travel and funding challenges.”
Indeed, the Philippines is rapidly becoming a hotspot for professional surfing, with international competitions now regularly staged in La Union, Siargao, and Baler.
Next up for Esquivel and Ebueza is the Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic in Victoria, Australia, from September 17 to 21, 2025.
They will then ride home advantage at the Siargao International 6000 Surfing Cup from October 23 to 31 — the highest-ranking WSL qualifying series event ever hosted in the Philippines. Offering $50,000 to the champions, it will draw elite surfers from China, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and the host nation.
Earlier this year, La Union successfully hosted the WSL World Junior Championships. With even bigger events now on the horizon, the country’s surf scene is not only lifting its athletes onto the world stage but also fueling sports tourism across its famed surf towns.
