Embraced by the Pacific Ocean and the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine archipelago is a surfing haven. Depending on the season, both seaboards offer exhilarating rides on the ocean waves.
Lanuza town in Surigao del Sur is one of the less heralded surf sites on the Pacific side, which can spring up a pleasant surprise to surfers in the hunt for new water playgrounds.
Lanuza Surfing Festival was born more than a decade ago when the municipal government decided to bring the spotlight to its challenging surfs, as well as its tourism assets.
According to Lanuza Mayor Salvacion Azarcon, the sporting event aims to position Doot Poktoy, the town’s surf site, as the surfing paradise of mainland Caraga region.
She said that the tourney is an avenue to promote the town’s natural and cultural attractions such as Magkawas Falls, Campamento Cave, Silop Cold Spring and the Herrera Ancestral House, which make Lanuza a consummate eco-tourism getaway.
Spicing up the sporting event are musical nights which starred big names in the entertainment world such as Abra, Akihiro Blanco, Nikki Gonzalez of Girl Trend, Nairud sa Wabad, and Apekz.
There were also evening parties led by DJ Buddha and DJ Inan Ratilla of Surigao City, which rocked the sleepy coastal town till the wee hours of the morning.
For a dash of pomp and pageantry, the festival also named Marla Alforque of Mandaue City as the ambassadress of goodwill and tourism in the search for Miss Surfing Lanuza.
In the main event, homegrown veteran wave rider Nexyol Ruina topped the Longboard Men’s Open, with La Union’s Jay-R Esquivel, Jefferson Basquina de la Torre and Allan Bunani winning runners-up honors.
Perennial winner Piso Alcala of Siargao topped the Men’s Shortboard for the third consecutive year, as fellow Siargaonon champ John Mark Tokong captured second place.
Meanwhile, Urbiztondo surfers Carlito Nogalo, and Esquivel settled for runners-up honors.
Siargao lady waveriders Nilbie Blancada dominated the Women’s Shortboard category, with Ana Mae Alipayo, Manette Alcala and Susan Escamillia rounding up the winning circle.
Daisy Valdez of La Union emerged champ of the Wahine class, edging Ikit Agudo, Alcala and Blancada of Siargao.
It was a shutout in the Grommet or the under-16 Division, as Siargao bagged all the awards with Gabriel Antipasado as champ, and John Jabi Noguerra, Benjomar Cañon and Benladen Arjona as runners-up.
Now on its 14th year, the surfing fest also included an agri-aqua trade fair, coastal cleanups, a street dancing tilt, and surfing clinics.
The event is supported by the Provincial Government of Surigao del Sur, the Department of Tourism-Caraga Region, the Congressional Office of the Second District, and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).