Siargao among Southeast Asia's '8 Ultimate Islands"



Sunset in Pilar, Siargao Island (Photo by: Zeny Pallugna)

General Luna, Siargao Island ---  After eighteen years of promoting Siargao as the Philippines' Surfing Capital, the Island is once again recognized by an international travel magazine as one of the southeast Asia's top tropical wonderlands. 

Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia has included Siargao Island in its list of "8 Ultimate Islands," describing it as a great place for "hanging ten," ABS-CBNnews.com said on its website.

"If you're going to Siargao, you'd best bring a surfboard. Curls of white foam are what lure most visitors to this southeast corner of the Philippines, to an island that defines laid-back," the magazine said on its website.

The rest of Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia's Ultimate Islands include Gili Air, Flores and Togean Islads Sulawest in Indonesia, Timor-Lester, Koh Phangan in Thailand, Kadavu Fiji, and Phu Quoc in Vietnam.

In June this year, Siargao, dubbed as the Philippines' Surfing Capital, has been named as the eighth best surf spot in the world by CNNGo, the travel website of the Cable News Network or CNN. Topping CNNGo's list of top surf spots in the world is Pipeline in Oahu, Hawii, which was described as "the daddy of all waves." (Source: ABS-CBNnews.com, September 9, 2012)






Kenya nationals join Siargao Adventure Race on October 19-21

Kenya nationals join Siargao Adventure Race on October 19-21
Photo by: Dennis Ohashi
Santa Monica, Siargao Island  --- Kenya nationals together with last year's champion,  Kenneth Taylor and Stewart Lagura, confirmed to join in the  2nd Siargao Adventure Race, which will be held in the Municipality of Santa Monica from October 19 to 21, 2012.  Both teams are aiming to grab the total prizemoney of Php100,000. Adventure racers all over the globe are invited to join the race.  

This was through the initiative of Congressman Francisco Matugas, Governor Sol Matugas, Mayor Rosalinda  Penera and the Philippine Surfing Federation (PSF). The organizers are now preparing for this adventure race.  SAVE THE DATE AND REGISTER NOW! (email us: zenpallugna@yahoo.com.ph).

Kenneth Taylor and Stewart Lagurra from the Province of Bukidnon
2012 Inaugural Event Champion:  
Kenneth Taylor and Stewart Lagurra from the Province of Bukidnon.
(Photo by: Zeny Pallugna) 
EVENT DETAILS:

2nd Siargao Adventure Race 2012:  
"The First Philippine Bike-Orienteering Race"
Event Date:   October 19-21, 2012
Location:  Santa Monica, Siargao Island, Philippines

Distance:  40km / 8 hours
Total Prizemoney:  Php100,000

The Race:  
Siargao Adventure Race will take place in Santa Monica, a rural fishing town located north of Siargao Island that has a five kilometer stretch of white sand beach, waterfalls, hidden coves, caves, islets with beautiful coral reef teeming with fishes, and vast mangrove forest. This sporting event is more than a race, it is a real adventure since the competitors will be taken to these less travelled tourist spots in Santa Monica such as Alegria White Sand Beach and Taktak falls.

The race, scheduled on the 20th of October, will be a strenuous one-day event involving various disciplines such as off-road running, trekking, mountain biking and orienteering; and covering 40-kilometers of the most spectacular scenery and rugged terrain the island has to offer which needs to be completed in eight (8) hours. The terrain is about 30 percent single tract trails and the rest are gravel and dirt roads. Mountain bikes are required for the two-man teams. The race is a navigation race which means an ample amount of compass and map reading skills are needed. It is going to be a single category only. The Teams have to navigate on bikes all throughout the race althought, many parts of th trail cannot be biked, they have to carry their bikes on their backs. There is no swim leg anymore. This is the first "Philippine Bike-Orienteering Race." 

Other Activities:
Aside from the race, both visitors and participants can join in the mangrove planting at Santa Monica Mangrove Park, Budol-Budol Fight, Sapao-Sapao Festival, Discovery Santa Monica Tour, and San Miguel Corporation’s nightly entertainment at Santa Monica Boulevard.

Organizers: 
Municipality of Santa Monica, Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte and Philippine Surfing Federation
In-cooperation with: House of Representatives for the First District of Surigao del Norte and Department of Tourism

Sponsors:

San Miguel Corporation, Nature Spring and Coca-Cola Bottlers Company 
Congressman Francisco T. Matugas, First District of Surigao del Norte
Governor Sol F. Matugas, Province of Surigao del Norte
Mayor Rosalinda A. Penera, Municipality of Santa Monica

Entry Fee:   

PHP 1,500 for a Team of 2 persons
Inclusive of food, event jersey, event shirt, and transfers within the island.

Register Now:

Get Registration Form through Philippine Surfing Federation
Email: zenpallugna@yahoo.com.ph / travelwithzen@gmail.com
Mobile No. +63929-6721508

Siargao hosts int'l surfing cup from September 23-29

The 2011 defending champion from Tahiti, Enrique Ariitu. (Photo by: Loanne Guardo Huelma)  
General Luna, Siargao Island ---    The 18th Siargao International Surfing Cup presented by the Philippine Surfing Federation (PSF) will kick off on September 23, Sunday, at the world’s top eight surfing spot, Cloud Nine.  Congressman Guillermo Romarate, Jr. of the second district of Surigao del Norte and Vice-Governor Egay confirmed to grace the ceremonial breaking of the surfboard to pay homage to the gods of the ocean and officially open this year’s surfing festival in the Municipality of General Luna in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte. 

A professional surfer from Tahiti, Enrique Ariitu, will be up against the foreign surfers and the Philippines’ top sixteen surfers to defend his last year’s title. The local talents will be naturally enjoying the advantage of carrying local knowledge of the waves along with the support of the local crowd.  Edito “Piso” Alcala, a local surfer from Siargao Island, will also be utilizing his experience at the break to his advantage to grab this year’s championship crown. In 2011, Alcala was defeated by Ariitu on a one-on-one 30-minute heat at Cloud Nine.       

The Philippines’ top sixteen surfers, who were selected during last May 2012’s Siargao national competition, will also be competing with the surfers from Australia, Indonesia and Japan. They are all vying for a total prize-money of US$10,000.

This international surfing event is the Philippines’ longest-running surfing competition making the country popular among the world’s sought after surf destinations.   It will be made possible through the efforts of the Municipality of General Luna, Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte and House of Representatives for the First District of Surigao del Norte. 

The event, which lasts through Saturday (September 29), will also feature Siargao National Women’s Beach Volleyball Open (September 24-27),  live musical performances each night from local and regional favorites, Laro Ng Lahi or Philippine Indigenous games, and San Miguel Corporations Fashion Show (September 29).  These special events will be held at Paseo de Cabutog. Everyone is enjoined to witness this surfing competition and explore the natural attractions of Siargao Island.    

This The 18th Siargao International Surfing Cup presented by the PSF is made possible through the support of Surigao del Norte’s working couple, Congressman Francisco Matugas and Governor Sol Matugas; Mayor Jaime P. Rusillon of General Luna; the Municipality of General Luna, the Philippine Department of Tourism, San Miguel Corporation, Cloud Nine Boardriders, Fluid Surf, Coca-Cola Bottler’s Company, and My Life On Board.   For more information, you may send email to zenpallugna@yahoo.com or call PSF, through its Secretary General Zeny Pallugna, at +639296721508


Entry Fee:  Php2,000 or US$50 per surfer
Total Prizemoney: US$10,000  

Categories:         Men's Open  


Special Events



SIARGAO NATIONAL WOMEN'S BEACH VOLLEYBALL OPEN
Event Date:  September 24-27, 2012
Event Venue: Paseo de Cabuntog (Boulevard), General Luna, Siargao Island
Entry Fee:  Php500 per team

SMB Live Band - September 23 to 28, 2012
SMB Bikini Open - September 29, 2012

PINOY GAMES OR LARO NG LAHI -  September 24 to 28, 2012

Interested participants can register through the Philippine Surfing Federation at 
zenpallugna@yahoo.com.ph or text us at +63 9296721508
(Don Pallugna, Event Coordinator).

About Siargao

Siargao is composed of 48 islands and islets-politically divided into nine municipalities: Burgos, Dapa, Del Carmen, Gen. luna, Pilar, San Benito, San Isidro, Santa Monica, and Socorro. Read more...

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