LANUZA, Surigao del Sur—The successful staging of the annual surfing festival held in this Pacific town has officially placed this once-sleepy coastal area on the map, as it vies to become one of the country’s major surfing destinations.
Held at the Doot Poktoy beach resort, the 14th yearly sporting event has drawn surfing professionals and enthusiasts from all over the country as they displayed their world-class surfing talents in the surfing fest.
Lanuza Mayor Salvacion Azarcon said the sporting event has showcased the natural beauty and potential of her town to become an international surfing competition venue and major water sports adventure and tourism spot.
The event, which also included an agri-aqua trade fair, coastal clean-ups, surfing clinics, concerts, beach dance concerts, and the Miss Surfing Lanuza pageant, generated added excitement and wide patronage among local and international tourists.
Marla Alforque of Mandaue City was crowned as the town’s ambassadresses of goodwill and tourism during the culminating day of the surfing festival.
Home-grown veteran Nexyol Ruina topped the Longboard Men’s Open, followed by La Union’s Jay-R Esquivel, while Jefferson Basquina Dela Torre and Allan Bunani shared the runners-up trophy.
For the third consecutive year, Piso Alcala of Siargao topped the Men’s Shortboard as fellow Siargaonon champion John Mark Tokong captured second. Urbiztondo surfers Carlito Nogalo and Esquivel made the podium.
For the women’s division, Siargao wave-rider Nilbie Blancada dominated the Shortboard category, with Ana Mae Alipayo, Manette Alcala and Susan Escamillia making the winner’s circle.
La Union’s Daisy Valdez emerged champion of the Wahine class, edging Ikit Agudo, Manette Alcala and Nilbie Blancada of Siargao.
The Siargaonons swept all awards in the Grommet or under-16 Division, with Gabriel Antipasado emerging on top and teammates John Jabi Noguerra, Benjomar Cañon and Benladen Arjona as runners-up.
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.
