Tucked on the eastern shores of the Visayas, you’ll find Borongan, a thriving coastal city known as one of the country’s best places to surf. Its wave breaks crash and glide onto the sandy Baybay Boulevard, and its sunrises are legendary. But the waves that draw crowds of surfers each year not only benefit the competitors but also the community as a whole.
Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Agda, Board Member PJ Evardone, UPSA representative, and city legislators have broken a surfboard to officially launch the surfing competition. (Photo courtesy of BCIO)
Two national surfing tournaments in a year
Over 150 competitors from across the Philippines joined this year’s Surf City Borongan Masters, running from November 24 to December 1, 2023, followed by the 2nd National Surf Summit, scheduled on December 2-4.
City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda, during the opening ceremony held on November 24, cited the impacts of hosting the two surfing tourneys, saying that it has helped raise the popularity of Borongan City as a surfing site, giving pride to the locals.
“The impact of this surfing [competition] in Borongan is very laudable and very important for our city because nalalagay na tayo sa mapa ng mga surfers in the country and, hopefully, we will also be recognized internationally,” Agda said.
“Maraming nakikinabang sa activity na ito, hindi lang ang ating surfers, hindi lang ang ating kabataan, hindi lang ang mga contestants, but the whole community of Borongan and the entire province,” the mayor added.
Board member and surfing enthusiast PJ Evardone, who represented Eastern Samar governor Ben Evardone, likewise shared the provincial government’s vision for Eastern Samar to be the surfing capital of the Visayas.
“Si Governor Ben, kami sa provincial government, hindi kami magsasawa na sumuporta sa ganitong surfing events because we all share one vision for Eastern Samar, and that is to make Eastern Samar the surfing capital of the Visayas,” said Evardone, noting that Eastern Samar was the only province that hosted two legs this season, including the surf competition in Calicoan last September.
“Hopefully, in the next five to 10 years from now, when people think of surfing, hindi lang La Union or Siargao ang iisipin nila. Iisipin din nilang pumunta sa ating minamahal na probinsya dito sa Eastern Samar,” added Evardone.
Not just surfing
The host city also boasts notable sports developments up its sleeve.
The Dukwag Sports Summit, which aims to improve the city’s sports development program, kicked off in November this year.
The summit gathers student-athletes all over the city to compete in various sporting events, which will lead to the selection and profiling of athletes and the creation of a year-long training program for Borongan athletes to better equip them for future competitions.
Additionally, the Margielyn Didal Skatepark, a space created to nurture local skateboarding talents and provide a land counterpart for surf training also located on Baybay Boulevard, opened on February 25. Next in line for construction is an Olympic-size community pool and climbing wall.
From a wooden hut to a new, sturdy concrete judge’s surf tower built on the beach at Baybay Boulevard. (Photo courtesy of BCIO)
To minimize the impacts of surf tourism on the environment, the city has also invested in a sand-raking device for removing trash debris from the beach, in addition to the diligent efforts of the street sweepers and cleaners of the city.
Local products in Surf City
A trade fair featuring products of local microentrepreneurs such as food, arts and crafts, clothing and accessories, surf supplies, Christmas decor, and e-bikes opened simultaneously with the surfing tournament.
One stall features products made by persons deprived of liberty (PDL) from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
According to one of the exhibitors and staff of the city information office, Marilyl Villanueva, the trade fair is an avenue for what Borongan has to offer in terms of its local products and crafts. She also noted that the fair is a huge help to the micro-entrepreneurs in the city to make their products reach wider clients, even the PDLs.
Buyers flock to the trade fair for local micro-entrepreneurs at Baybay Beach in Borongan City. The fair features products such as food, arts and crafts, clothing and accessories, surf supplies, Christmas decor, and e-bikes running alongside the Surf City Borongan Masters. (Photo courtesy of BCIO)
Surf City chairperson Rupert Ambil noted how the surfing event highlights not just the sport but also the opportunities it creates for the whole community of Borongan.
“It’s not just about surfing anymore. It’s a whole community approach to creating opportunities not just for surfers but for everyone. Everyone is pitching in,” said Ambil, who is also the city information office head.
United Philippine Surfing Association (UPSA) secretary general Gino Canlas Jr. shared his appreciation for the city’s support for surfing.
“We are very proud and fortunate to have very progressive and supportive partners,” said Canlas, Jr. in a brief message.
Souvenir items. (Photo courtesy of BCIO)
Teams from Northern Samar, Palawan, Sorsogon, Surigao del Norte, Zambales, Aurora, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Davao Oriental, Eastern Samar, Ilocos Sur, Leyte, and La Union, as well as sole participants from Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental, are competing for this year’s surfing tournaments.
The events are presented by the City Government of Borongan, co-presented by Tingog Partylist, the Department of Tourism, Philippine Airlines, the Provincial Government of Eastern Samar led by Governor Ben Evardone, the Lone District of Eastern Samar represented by Rep. Fe Abunda, and Rep. Marcelino Libanan of 4Ps Partylist.
The national surfing competition is organized by the City Government of Borongan in collaboration with the United Philippine Surfing Association (UPSA) and the SCES and is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). (MMP/VTG/PIA Eastern Samar)
