The question above haunts me every time I leave a certain surf spot I have visited.
I just came from three off-the-beaten-spots of surfing in the Philippines: Dahican Beach in Mati City, Gubat Bay in Sorsogon and Majestic Puraran in Baras, Catanduanes. All these spots have a common denominator apart from the warm local surfers who just want to share the ocean with you- LOTSA LOCAL TALENT BUT LACK SURFBOARDS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.
This kid made me blog about this. This Puraran local even with a broken surfboard goes out to the sea and tries to imitate the older kids playing in the surf.
In my homebreak in Dahican Beach, we only have 2 longboards (one super heavy that was given 5 years ago given by a Japanese surfer and a bamboo board given by an Australian shaper Richard), about 4 plastered shortboards and four repaired leashes. But we have one of the best skimboarders in the Philippines- “Bayugyog” Aporbo.
In Gubat, they have no more than 15 surfboards- 4 given by DOT Region 5 and the others bought at a Japanese surplus most either lacking fins or needf a lot of repairing. But most kids learned surfing even without leashes and wax.
Look at this plastered again and again board.
In Majestic Puraran, I have seen reef-sheered-fiber-cloth-coated-shortboards still being used to get some world-class barrels. Some kids take turns using boards. You will not see a single white board (brand new) being used there. But the locals are wave hunters and chargers!
I can go on and talk about the surfing communities in Ayoke Island and Cantilan; in Bulusan, Sorsogon; even our well-known surfing spots like La Union, Baler, Zambales and Bagasbas have stories of hand-me-down-or-bought-from-surplus surfboards used by local surfers most not fit for their height.
And I would say, teary-eyed, RESPECT to these local surfers who still promote and make surfing known in the Philippines. Sharing whatever they have to the community they are in.
And so I ask,
“Why doesn’t surfing get support like basketball do?” To think that we have waves all-year-round and talents that don’t need height requirement like basketball do. Why do politicians keep on building multi-purpose buildings and coliseums (aka sabungan) instead of purchasing surfboards or building skateparks so our surfers can practice when there is no swell
Why do we keep on raving bout the Azkals and forget about those who are in LU or Siargao or Baler?
Have you heard of the story of Manoy, Arjun and Ian when they tried to ask for help from Philippine Sports Commission when they wanted to represent Philippines in California’s United Skim Tour (They were denied of support because one idiot in PSC said that skimboarding is not a sports)?
Did people celebrate when a local talent, Bayogyog Aporbo from Mati City became the two-time champion at the International Skimboarding Festival at Penang, Malaysia?
While it’s so easy for our government officials to have a Lakbay Aral tour in HongKong or Singapore, it’s almost impossible for our deserving and worthy surfers, skimboarders and skaters to join national competitions because they don’t have budget for transportation and food. Would they even compete in other countries with this kind of support?
Floating Boardwalk. Locals said it only cost Php500,000 but it reflected Php5M in the congressman of Catanduanes’ budget. PDAFund maybe?
And when a congressman makes something to “support the local break” its actually more for his advantage. Take this whooping Php5,000,000 floating boardwalk a Catanduanes locals told me; I heard that it’s actual cost is Php500,000. I think this owes an explanation from the one who created this project. To whose pocket did the additional “0” ended up? I hope he surfs too!
More questions form in the mind whenever I converse with locals and I keep on asking myself what can I do to help?
I’m someone who is proactive and I want to do something. Very soon I know God will guide me to do the next steps to help but for now I want to share this through this blog and hopefully those who read will contribute and help these kids.
We have so much potential in surfing than in basketball. Yes, take that from someone who’s in love with shooting hoops since age 9.
Hope you can pass this blog on. Thank you in advance!
James Betia
Team Amihan, Longboard Surfer
Hi James,
Considering we’re an archipelago, we can take this to our advantage!I hope you do again well as what you did in Jomalig. You are not just a traveler, you’re someone who can do a lot of things that can affect change. You are very well capable of doing large feats than some people like us (sorry, I’m also into desk jobs). But yeah, travelers can change the world, and you’re one heck of a traveler! I really do believe in you! I may not support you financially (hahahaha forever broke) but I’ll support every project you have!
Orayt! Chakra pass to you! haha
I understand all your sentiment pero di mo na siguro kelangan pang sabihin na Why doesn’t surfing get support like basketball,volleyball or football do?”.
First magkaiba silang sports, and may nararating naman tayo kahit papaano sa football and basketball – fyi Gilas just made it to the FIBA World Championship. I’m not saying wala tayong future sa surfing. No need to compare other sports thats it!
Second hindi lahat ng tao may access sa mga surfing spots like Baler, LU, Leyte and other places.Unlike basketball or football pwede ka mag-setup ng ring or net sa kalye.
Sa mga corrupt na politiko mo dapat i-address to. NO NEED TO COMPARE.
I like surfing but maraming beses ko na rin narinig sa mga locals at surfers na very expensive sport/hobby talaga ang surfing, lalo na kung walang waves or dagat sa lugar niyo katulad sa amin. 🙁
ano daw use ng floating boardwalk? makagawa lang ng project. nakapunta ka na ba recently sa butuan? yung isang opisyal dun, busy sa pagpapagiba ng bundok para may matinong daanan yung business niyang zipline. habang may ibang bayan pa dun na rough road. maganda pa naman mga corals dun.
Hi James, I find the figures unfounded and heresies. Please be careful with what you publish on your blog as this could lead to social media abuse. Of course, personally, I condone corruption but let’s be fair. Call the congressman a tongressman when you have actually seen on paper that the budget for the project was 5M and verified with the contractor that it only cost 500k (or at least an estimate with another contractor).
BE RESPONSIBLE. Sabi nga ng GMA News Team, “Think before you click.” Dude.
You miss to include lanuza, surigao del sur.. =(
I hope you are careful enough to research before pointing fingers, or even indirectly blaming people, especially with regards to the Floating Boardwalk project.
1.) is it really the Congressman’s project, or probably another government body or administrative agency?2.) can you produce a copy of any receipts or project proposals stating your accusations that the Congressman himself agreed and signed the P5M project?
I know its disheartening how there are a lot of corrupt officials. But with the few good ones, sana di ka mabilis mag husga. We’re in a society where people have lost most of their hopes and trust towards the government. Wag mo naman sirain yung iilan na mga malilinis na tao.
ps I Agree with MajesticWaves and Anon
we understand your sentiments sa mga proyekto ng gobyerno vis-a-vis corruption involving lawmakers and other government officials, lalu na po kinakaharap natin ngayon ang Napoles scam. Pero sana huwag po tayong padalos-dalos sa paghusga kahit na po ang ating motibo o hangarin ay malaman ang katotohanan. Dito po sa amin sa Catanduanes malaki po ang respeto namin sa aming congressman. You can check po his projects and programs sa Catanduanes Serbihan acct sa facebook and judge for yourself kung anong klase pong opisyal ng gobyerno o representante ang aming mambabatas. Sana po you tried checking some facts muna before engaging others sa pagkomento na medyo hindi na po responsable at mukha pa nga pong abuso na sa kanilang freedom to express their “opinions”. Still, God bless.. James…!
Okay I’ll say it, i think we’re getting a little off topic in the comments. I think the point here is, is that surfing isn’t celebrated here. I agree that it really should. Has anyone commenting actually seen those kids out there in Baler shredding up those waves?! They’re pretty impressive. Just saaaaying
I think some people here are over reacting. I think he just wanted to point out that we have local talent that the world should eventually see.
And to those who kept saying that he was accusing, what he said was he just heard. He also said that, that needed explanation from who ever created the project. So chill, why are you all defensive? I mean, we don’t know either if it were napoles who took the money of the people, but we’ve jumped to conclusions. Just because she has a lot of money. We have no proof that she was the one who did it. Do you all have paper? Have ya’ll done your research? I think we all have the right to speak, he spoke his mind, he’s entitled to his own opinion. So you just better respect what he published.
And as for you, james, its pretty awesome what you do. just continue and hopefully people will take notice of our local talents and help them reach their goals =)