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Thursday, November 06, 2003
Surfing Siargao
By Josephine Capistrano
What is the surfing lifestyle in the Philippines? Curiosity got the better of me when I saw the movie, Blue Crush. I wondered if our local surfing community was anything like it and was especially concerned with the movie’s depiction of the local surfers as a territorial group of people. This led me to Siargao Island which hosts annual national and international surfing competitions.
Like many of the Philippine islands, Siargao is beautiful, untouched, unspoiled and commercial-free. It is peaceful and a great place for relaxation and reflection. Filled with friendly and open people who are very hospitable, it was easy to find a smile at virtually every corner.
They take great pride in their island and I was not surprised to discover that even though they seemed disconnected from the outside world, they were aware of the many dangers that could touch their home.
This I experienced through the food they served. I had never eaten so much fish and vegetables in a week. This was the only vacation wherein I actually lost weight. I owe the two pounds I lost to the local government's awareness drive, encouraging its merchants to take responsibility in maintaining the ecological balance of their island.
As a result, Siargao has the biggest mangrove forest in Mindanao.
Prior to my trip, I tried to dispel from my mind all surfer stereotypes. I was afraid that I would find a territorial bunch that would refuse to talk to me. When I met Team Siargao my fears vanished.
They welcomed me with open arms and like the rest of the residents of Siargao, they are hospitable and warm. Team Siargao taught me how to surf.
The first thing I learned was that the best time to surf is during high tide. The tides are different in Siargao, coming in at 3 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Which means, I had to get up at 4 a.m., surf for about three hours and wait for the tide to come in again in the afternoon and if we were lucky, the light would last for another three hours. I had to learn how to read the swell of the wave, when to start paddling, balance the board on the wave, and then balance myself on the board. I found out for myself why these surfers were fit. There was not an inch of fat on their bodies since apart from their diet, the sport can get very strenuous. I also found out why surfing can be addicting.
Many surf breaks can be found in Siargao like Cloud 9, Quicksilver, Pacifico, Mabuntok Reef, Dako, and other unnamed breaks. The bottomline is, wherever you are in Siargao, you are bound to find a surf break.
Local surfers are constantly encouraged to name the various breaks rather than wait for a foreigner to name it for them. I was pleasantly surprised at how they reacted to the idea: they did not care who named the breaks since to them, a surf is a surf. There was no hint of selfishness or vanity involved since that is not what surfing is about to them.
This group is proud not only of their sport, but of their community as well. Their commitment to their bodies and the team is reflected in their daily activities. To stay on top of their game, they do pylometrics and calisthenics everyday led by Mike from Sta. Barbara, California. They are considered role models in their community, especially by children, this is why education is important to them. To be a team member, one must finish school, so they tutor each other every night and make sure that nobody slacks off.
Although the team may know different sports, surfing is their one true passion. Though I cannot claim that I am a surfer, I understand their love for it. Although no easy feat, whenever I was on a wave, I felt like I was part of something greater than myself. Talking to them, I found that each of them had different perspectives on the surf. Some look at the sea and find a friend, others see a constant challenge, but all put their hearts into the sport.
I went to Siargao to learn about our local surfing community. What I found was a group of responsible individuals who do not tire of the endless challenges that come their way. They live a life wherein they have found peace within themselves. They not only pursue the greatest waves of the sea but also the high tides of life.
(November 6, 2003 issue)
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