Philippines counts down to first ever ASP QS event at Cloud 9

Cloud 9, Siargao, Philippines. PIC ASP/Will H-S

COOLANGATTA, QLD/AUS (Wednesday, September 17, 2014) - The 20th Annual Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup is only weeks away from creating history as the first ASP Qualifying Series (QS) event at Cloud 9 in the Philippines. The event will be co-sanctioned by both the Association of Surfing Professionals and the Asian Surfing Championship (ASC), with surfers battling for precious ranking’s points and prize money at one of the world’s best waves.

While the event only carries a 1-Star rating and won’t be attracting the stars of our sport the way the 6-Star and Prime events do, this event is more about offering competitive experience for local surfers and giving up-and-coming international surfers and future stars of the sport valuable competitive experience at QS level.

Byron Bay's Soli Bailey at the 2011 Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup. Pic ASP/Will H-S.

“It’s fantastic to be working with the ASC to help grow the sport of surfing throughout Asia,” ASP Australasia General Manager Dane Jordan said. “1-Star QS events are the ideal way to test your competitive skills and learn what it takes to fight through a draw of talented surfers. Not to mention have the chance to surf one of the world’s best waves with just a couple of other surfers in the water.” 

16-year-old Quinn Bruce (Coolangatta, QLD/AUS) is one of Australia’s most exciting up-and-coming talents. Bruce works hard to perfect his skills at Snapper Rocks, the training grounds of some of the world’s best surfers — Joel Parkinson, Mick Fanning and Stephanie Gilmore.

“I haven't been to Cloud 9 before and I can’t wait to check the place out,” Bruce said. “I’ve heard it’s a perfect right hand barrel with a section at the end of it which is what every natural footer dreams of. I think living at Snapper and being a natural footer could be an advantage for me. There’s quite a huge difference surfing at QS events compared to the Juniors, in Junior events average scores are no worries, but in QS events it’s much harder to get a good score, plus you’re coming up against bigger and more experienced guys which can sometimes be intimidating. I haven't been told anything negative about the place yet so I'm sure it’s going to be a magical trip.”

Dede Suryana (IND) is one of Indonesia’s favourite surfing sons, and is a threat in any and all conditions. Coming off an equal 3rd place finish at last year’s Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup, Suryana is hungry to go one better and make the final this time around.

"I can't wait again to get back there,” Suryana said. “It’s such a good wave and it's a right hander. I love rights and especially barrels! I hope for more barrels again this year. Last year I finished in equal 3rd place. So, this year I need to be in the final! I'm coming Cloud 9!"

The 2014 Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup will run from 24 - 28 September 2014 and boasts US$15,000 Prize Money, and will be run in conjunction with the Philippines Surfing Federation.

This year's surfing event is brought to you by the MVP Group of Companies and Manila Mining Corporation and organized by the Municipality of General Luna, Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte and the Philippine Surfing Federation (PSF) in cooperation with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), Philippine Department of Tourism, Cloud 9 Boardriders Club and Fluid Surf. 

For more information, visit ASPWorldTour.com or send email to Philippine Surfing Federation at zenpallugna@yahoo.com.ph or pallugna_don@yahoo.com.  (by Tim Hain)

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Philippines' Cloud 9 surfing tourney becomes ASP Qualifying Series tournament

For more information, email us at zenpallugna@yahoo.com.ph or pallugna_don@yahoo.com.
Photo courtesy of Ronald Allan Chua of Karaga Republic.

This year's Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup, slated to run in the Philippines this September 24-28, will be a historic event. It has been running for 20 years, but this fall will be the Cup's first to offer ASP Qualifying Series (QS) points. The contest event will now be co-sanctioned by both ASP QS and Asian Surfing Championship (ASC), giving competitors a unique opportunity to better their respective standings in each league.

Defending champion Putra Hermawan (IDN) is looking forward to competing in an even bigger event and taking full advantage of the chance to compete for both ASP QS and ASC points simultaneously.

"Surfing Cloud 9 is like surfing my home break, Lacerations, in Nusa Lembongan," Hermawan said. "Last year was my first time to surf at Cloud 9 and I'm so excited to go back there again."

With ASP heading to the break, local surfers like Osot Alcala (PHI) will have the chance to compete among some of the sport's top athletes in the world.

"The locals are super excited to have the ASP and ASC here at Cloud 9," Alcala said. "We want our chance to surf against some of the best and can’t wait until September."

Siargao's governor, Francisco T. Matugas, has been a driving force behind getting this event on the world stage. Along with offering more opportunity for the surfers, a QS rating is a chance for the region to put a spotlight on its waves and its talent.

Surfing continues to gain footing in Asia and the Siargao is another step up in the upward mobility of the sport there. The president of the Republic of the Philippines, Benigno S. Aquino III, plans to attend the opening ceremonies, a sign of the growing popularity of surfing in the country.

The ASP sanction will also create a huge draw for both regional and international of surfers, furthering the Asia Pacific region's standing as integral part of competitive surfing.

"I've been lucky enough to see Cloud 9 first-hand and it truly is one of the world's best waves," said Dane Jordan, ASP Australasia General Manager. "It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to make these events happen so I'd like to thank the people of the Philippines and everyone who's involved."

The 20th Annual Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup will run from September 24 to 28, 2014 and it is brought to you by the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte, Municipality of General Luna and the Philippine Surfing Federation in cooperation with the MVP Group of Companies, Philex Mining, Fluid Surf and Cloud 9 Boardriders. (by Tim Hain, ASC)

About ASP

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the sole governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Championship Tours (WCT), the ASP Qualification Series (QS), the Big Wave World Tour; the ASP World Longboard Championship (WLC) and the ASP World Junior Championship (WJC).

The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfers in the world’s best waves with the International organization supported by seven regional offices in Africa, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, Japan, North America, and South America.

The ASP serves to celebrate and grow the history, elite athletes, diverse fans and dedicated partners that together embody professional surfing today.

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Siargao's annual surfing cup kicks off on September 17

(Photo courtesy of Ronald Allan Chua of Karaga Republic)

General Luna, Siargao Island, Philippines --- Now on its 16th year, the Siargao National Surfing Cup at Cloud 9 in Siargao Island is expected to gather around 150 Filipino surfers from all over the Philippines from September 17 to 21 to grab the total prize money of Php200,000. Interested participants may just get in touch with the Philippine Surfing Federation (PSF) at zenpallugna@yahoo.com.ph or pallugna_don@yahoo.com.

This annual event is brought to you by the PSF in partnership with the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte, House of Representatives and Local Government Unit of General Luna.

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Siargao's local surfer wins in the Maldives Open 2014 surfing tourney

Nilbie Blancada (red jersey) wins in the Maldives Open 2014 surfing tournament. Photo courtesy of James O'donnell.

In the Women’s Division final of the inaugural event of Maldives Open 2014, it was 2013 ASC Women’s Champion Rina Kitazawa from Japan getting the win over local favorite and resort surf guide Amy Kotch (USA), Cloud Nine’s Nilbie Blancada (PHL), and 5-time Indonesian Women’s Champion Yasnyiar “Bonne” Gea (INA).  She admitted that she didn’t expect to win the event, as the wave is a left and she is a naturalfooter. “I didn’t think I would win, as there was Amy and Bonne who were goofyfooters and they are such good and experienced surfers, much older than me.  But the wave is so good here and I got a few nice waves, so in the end I could win,” she explained.

This Maldives 2014 event was brought to you by Asian Surfing Championships (ASC) in cooperation with the Maldives Bodyboarding Associatio. This ASC Grade 3 event, with a total prize purse of $15,000 over the three divisions of Men’s Open, Women’s, and Bodyboarding, took place from September 3-7 at Lohis Point.

Lohis Point at the Adaaran Select Hudhuran Fushi Resort is a machine-like left-hand wave that peels perfectly down the coral reef for often hundreds of meters, and has been the site of ASP World Qualifying Series (the world’s top professional surfing organization) events in the past due to its quality, consistency, and accessibility. Offering up barrel sections as well as steep wall sections for carves, lip hacks, and the occasional punt section, this wave will allow the competitors to display their full repertoire of maneuvers during their heats, and often all on the same wave.

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Siargao women surfers win in the 7th Siargao Int'l Surfing Cup

The winners (L-R) - Kim Woolridge (Australia), Nildie Retenbach (Philippines)
and Manette Alcala (Philippines)

On its 7th year, the all women's surfing event in Asia (which was held from May 6 to 10, 2014) successfully concluded last May 10, after days of intense competition among the 19 surfers from Japan, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Greece, Czech Republic, Sweden, Argentina, France and Philippines. at the world's best surfing spot, Cloud 9 in Siargao Island, Philippines. 

Whopping the US$5,000 prizemoney with trophies were three women surfers from Siargao Island plus an Australian surfer, Kim Woolridge, who was last year's defending.

Champion: Nelvie Blancada (Philippines)
1st RU: Manette Alcala (Philippines)
Equal 3rd RU: Nildie Retenbach (Philippines) and Kim Woolridge (Australia)

This 5-day event was organized by the Philippine Surfing Federation (PSF), Local Government of General Luna, Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte and Philippine House of Representatives for the first district of Surigao del Norte.  (Photos by Wilmar Melindo)

The surfers together with the government officials (L-R) - Mayor Jaime Rusillon, Governor Sol Matugas, Congressman Francisco Matugas, Board Member Simeon Castrense, Vice Mayor Vic-Vic Solloso and Vice Governor Egay.

Special thanks to our sponsors - Surf Angel, Fluid Surf, Smart Communications, San Miguel Corporations and Nature Spring.

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Guide to Siargao for Non Surfers

If you are non surfer then try find another Siargao attraction like white beaches, enchanting lagoons, caves, sand bars, coral reefs, bizarre rock formations, exotic wildlife, endless rice fields, waterfalls, a large mangrove forest reserve and much more...

Photo Credit: Just One Way Ticket

Video Credit: Just One Way Ticket

Siargao Map - Click here

Siargao Accommodation - Click here

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Siargao Girls Int'l Surfing Cup is set on May 6 to 10

The Municipality of General Luna and the Philippine Surfing Federation (PSF) are inviting you to join or witness this year's Siargao Girls International Surfing Cup which will be held at Cloud 9 (the world's number 8 surf spot) in General Luna, Siargao Island, Philippines, from May 6 to 10, 2014. For more information, email us at zenpallugna@yahoo.com.ph.

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Surigao del Norte hosts inaugural Tourism Summit

Surigao City --- Building on the momentum of recent growth in visitors numbers to the Province of Surigao del Norte [more than doubled (134.5%) its tourist arrivals compared last year,  from 43,000 to 103,000 according to DOT Caraga Report], the provincial government through the initiative of Governor Sol Matugas hosted the inaugural Tourism Summit last February 24, 2014 at the Gateway Hotel in Surigao City.  The summit, which revolved on the theme, Reshaping the tourism industry towards Baong Surigao, gathered around 200 travel industry leaders to hear insights from the invited tourism experts.  

Governor Matugas said that this summit was just the first among the series of meetings to be organized by the Provincial Tourism Office to generate the inputs of both private and public sectors to develop a comprehensive program for tourism for the next five years. 

Tourism Marketing Consultant Zeny Pallugna said that the tourism landscape of Surigao del Norte will be reshaped through the development of a new tourism hub to spread the benefit of tourism to the mainland Municipalities. She recommended Bucas Grande Island as the new tourism hub for the province, capitalizing on the development of a new jump-off point to Bucas Grande Island, which is at Municipality of Claver. By doing this, the tourism potential of its neighboring Municipalities such as Guigaquit, Bucuag and Placer will also be developed. 

According to Pallugna, Bucas Grande is  a stand alone destination that can attract both foreign and local tourists by just capitalizing on its core product, the jelly fish lake. In the Philippines, there are only two areas which have non-stingy jelly fish --- Coron in Palawan and Bucas Grande. A simple improvement of its tourism center and development of unique tour packages, such as habal-habal tour, birdwatching tour, jelly lake tour and cultural experience tour would be a big boost to the island's tourism industry.  

She further recommended to develop scuba diving as a new tourism product for the province. Cagtinae Reef in the Municipality of Malimono is among the dive sites frequently visited by a group of Surigao divers.  The reef is about 30-minutes from Surigao City by private car.

Another untapped tourism products are the ESL or English as a Second Language and geotourism. Pallugna mentioned that ESL is also a good tourism product to be developed by the tourism office of Surigao City. The city has a number of universities and colleges which can be tapped for this program. The municipalities of Dapa and Del Carmen can also look into this ESL market to boost its tourist arrivals.    

The Municipality of Del Carmen is currently offering geotourism and other Municipalities can also do this. Geotourism is a huge market, with around 55.1 million geotourists around the globe who are mostly concentrated in New York, well-off, educated and interested on local culture, local products and community interaction.  

Meanwhile, Tourism Directors Letty Tan and Maria Patria Aurora Roa presented Caraga Region's tourism statistics and shared the tourism success stories of Cebu and Bohol, respectively. 

The success of the Tourism Summit was through the effort of the Provincial Tourism Office of Surigao del Norte, headed by Art Cruje. 

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Siargao's Dedon Island Resort ranks #16 as among the "21 Amazing Hotels You Need to Visit Before You Die"

Dedon Island Resort in Siargao Island, Philippines (www.dedonisland.com)

I have been traveling around the Philippines since mid-1990s but I fell in love with Siargao Island, the moment I step on it --- the smiles and warmth of the local people and the beautiful scenery (sun, sand, sea and surf). My love for surfing, outdoor activities and Siargao Island, got me involved in several tourism activities, programs and projects in the Island. It gave me the opportunity to visit the Island more often in a year and I felt like I'm a local resident there. 

Since mid-90's, together with the local government and tourism stakeholders in Siargao, we worked together to promote the Island's tourism assets. The concerted efforts of the different sectors in the Island has been paid off, as the Island received several accolades from the international tourism publications.

This year (2014), My Science Academy published a list of 21 Amazing Hotels You Need to Visit Before You Die  and Siargao's Dedon Island Resort ranks number 16 among the 21 amazing hotels in the world. (http://myscienceacademy.org/2014/02/11/21-amazing-hotels-you-need-to-visit-before-you-die/).

1.     Äscher Cliff, Switzerland (Website: myswitzerland.com)

Ascher Cliff Hotel in Switzerland (www.myswitzerland.com)

 2.     Hotel Kakslauttanen, Finland (Website: kakslauttanen.fi)

Hotel Kakslauttanen in Finland (www.kakslauttanen.fi)

3.     Ladera Resort, St. Lucia (Website: ladera.com)

4.     The Manta Resort, Zanzibar

5.     Rayavadee Krabi, Thailand (Website: rayavadee.com)

6.     Shangri La, Paris (Website: shangri-la.com)

7.     Hotel Ristorante Grotta Palazzese Polignano a Mare, Italy (Website: grottapalazzese.it)

8.     Conrad Maldives, Rangali Island (Website: conradhotels3.hilton.com)

9.     Panchoran Retreat, Bali (Website: panchoran-retreat.com)

10. Hotel Ubud Hanging Gardens, Indonesia (Website: hanginggardensubud.com)

11. Attrap Reves Hotel, France (Website: attrap-reves.com)

Attrap Reves Hotel in France (www.attrap-reves.com)

12. Katikies Hotel-Oia, Greece (website: katikies.com)

13. Hotel Le Sirenuse, Amalfi Coast, Italy (Website: sirenuse.it)

14. Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden (Website: icehotel.com)

15. The Cambrian Hotel, Adelboden, Switzerland (Website: thecambrianadelboden.com)

16. Dedon Island Resort, Philippines (Website: dedonisland.com)

Dedon Island Resort in Siargao Island, Philippines (www.dedonisland.com)

17. Home Stead Resort (Website: homesteadresort.com)

18. Villa Escudero, Philippines (Website: villaescudero.com)

Villa Escudero Coconut Plantation Resort in the Philippines (www.villaescudero.com) 

          19. Hotel-Restaurant Öschinensee, Switzerland (Website: oeschinensee.ch)

          20. Astarte Suits Hotel, Greece (Website: astartesuites.gr)

          21. Montana Magica Lodge, Chile (Website: huilohuilo.com)

Montana Magica Lodge in Chile (www.huilohuilo.com)

 The Dedon Island Resort in Siargao Island earlier received a prestigious recognition from an International Traveller, a widely read international magazine, as No. 37 among the 100 Best Hotels and Resorts in the world.

  Siargao’s popularity can be traced back in early 1990s when a famous surf photographer and writer, John Callahan, discovered Cloud 9 surf break (named after the local no-melt chocolate bars) and published an article about his surf expedition in the island. It was also recognized by CNN.Go as world’s ten best surf spot for two consecutive years (2012-2013).

   The discovery of Cloud 9 as a world-class surfing destination stimulated tourist arrivals and tourism investors, making it the number one source of international visitor arrivals in Caraga Region. (By Zeny C. Pallugna)

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Philippines announces underwater shootout festival on December 4 to 8

Manila, Philippines  -- The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) in cooperation with members of  the Underwater Macro Photographers Group (UWMP) will launch its first ever international underwater (UW) shootout in Anilao, a quiet seaside community in Batangas two hours away South of Manila, from December 4 to 8 this year.

The PDOT is setting its sights on promoting the Philippines as a premier UW macro photography destination in Asia and enticing more foreign UW photographers to engage their hobby in the Philippines through the holding of this event in Anilao,  “one of the best places for underwater photography in the world”, according to Christian Vizl, a multi-award winning underwater photographer.  

This joint project, entitled “Anilao Underwater Photo Competition Festival”, is open to both foreign and local UW photographers and fun divers for an entry fee of Php1000 or US$20 per participant inclusive of a 4-day dive pass, an event shirt and invitation to hosted welcome and farewell dinners with cultural entertainment.   

Winners will receive a minimum total of US$10,000 worth of valuable prizes including dive trips to the country’s best dive sites in Cebu, Bohol and Anilao through the support of Tourism Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), Prestige Sport Malaysia, Cebu Pacific Airlines and other partner dive resorts in the Philippines. Contest mechanics can be viewed at www.acaciadive.com or by request through email at phdiveteam@gmail.com.

Simultaneous with the underwater macro photography contest, fun dives will also be organized for dive fanatics, as well as the conduct of seminars on “Dive Photography” during the festival. World renowned UW photographers (i.e., Koji Nakamura, President of Japan Underwater Films;    Yorko Summer, dive travel journalist;   Christian Vizl, current world champion in underwater photography; Ken Thongpila, multi-award winning underwater photographer and founder of Underwater Macro Photographers Club; and Michael Aw, one of the world’s most influential nature photographers) will grace the festival as board of judges and seminar speakers.

Divers can sign up and book their local travel arrangements for this international UW shootout at phdiveteam@gmail.com. Interested divers can also register at https://www.regonline.com/anilaounderwateruwphotocompetitionfestival  or visit the event facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Anilaouwphotocompetitionbydot.  PDOT partner resorts in Anilao are also offering special dive promo packages of as low as US$499 for a 4 nights/5 days dive package inclusive of 6 boat dives, fullboard meals, accommodation (twin sharing arrangement), air tanks and dive master.  

All the participating divers will surely say “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” with the opportunity to win fantastic prizes from local sponsors during the awarding ceremony on December 8 at seven o’clock in the evening at Acacia Resort and Dive Center and to be entertained with cultural dances, live band and treated to delectable cuisine.        

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