DOT: Travel advisories cannot hinder 2008 Billabong Surfing Cup’s success
September 27, 2008Gen. Luna, Siargao Island — The recent events happening in Lanao del Sur which led to the issuance of travel advisories by some countries did not really affect the tourist arrivals in Siargao.
This is the joint statements of officials of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Local Government of Surigao del Norte, and LGU-Gen. Luna in a press conference held yesterday (Sept.20) at Cabuntog Resort, this town.
DOT Caraga Regional Director Leticia Tan said statistics showed that at present, tourist arrivals in Caraga Region are increasing. “We’re not affected by travel advisories because it dictates that our incoming visitors are still increasing so let us not be affected by the travel advisories,” she said.
Likewise, Dir. Tan thanked the members of the media for helping the government in promoting the region as one of the tourist destinations in the Philippines. “With these people here advertising Gen. Luna, Siargao and entire Caraga Region, there is no reason for us to be afraid of travel advisories,” Tan said.
Meanwhile, DOT Sports and Wellness Director Cynthia Lazo believed that as a whole it (travel advisory) does not affect much with the tourism industry of the country.
On the other hand, Surigao del Norte Board Member Melva Garcia for her part as the chair of committee on Tourism of the province bared the passage of a resolution addressed to different embassies requesting them in case they will issue travel advisory in Mindanao, but they should specify which part in Mindanao they’re going to let their tourist not to go.
“So when it comes to Surigao we are a very peaceful province so they should not include Surigao del Norte for that matter as part of the whole,” Garcia noted.
Gen. Luna Mayor Felipe Espejon also conveyed Garcia’s request to the different embassies regarding travel advisories and was convinced that there’s an increase of tourist arrivals in his town. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Bad conditions hamper Day 1 of Intl Surfing Cup in Siargao
September 22, 2008SIARGAO ISLAND, Surigao del Norte - Winds and weak waves forced organizers delay the first day of the 14th International Surfing Cup in General Luna town’s Cloud 9 Sunday.
According to some of the surfers, the wind was so strong during their free surf that they could hardly move in the waves and eye-soar.
Organizers said they will continue to monitor the weather conditions. If conditions fail to improve, they said the competition will resume Monday morning.
A total of 48 foreign surfers who traveled all the way to General Luna to compete in the magnificent waves of Cloud 9.
Among the participants are International Surfing defending champion Wade Goodall of Australia and some of the world’s most prolific tube riders, including 2006 Pipeline master James O’Brien and professional big wave rider Makua Rothman, both from Hawaii. Also present in the event are fearless Australian chargers Laurie Towner and Dylan Longbottom.
The participants will be competing for the tournament’s $20,000 top prize. (abs-cbnnews)
PHILIPPINES’ SIARGAO’s SURFING MEET STARTS SATURDAY
September 19, 2008SIARGAO ISLAND, Surigao del Norte. 48 world surfers coming for 6-day 2008 Surfing Championship in Siargao Island. 48 world surfers coming for 6-day 2008 Surfing Championship in Siargao Island
At least 48 world surfers are set to arrive here on September 19 for the six-day 2008 Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational Surfing Championships on September 20-26.
Surigao del Norte solon Rep. Francisco T. Matugas, Gov. Robert Ace Barbers and the island’s local chief executives said the big opening has already been set for the week-long event.
‘All systems go,’ said Matugas.
The prestigious tournament include defending event champion, Australian surfing star Wade Goodall (Caloundra) and some of the world’s most prolific tube riders like 2006 Pipeline Master Jamie O’Brien (Hawaii) and professional big wave rider Makua Rothman (Hawaii), Australian chargers Laurie Towner (Yamba, NSW) and Dylan Longbottom (Coolangatta, Qld).
A special cash prize of U.S. $20,000 will be up for grabs at 10 a.m. on Saturday at General Luna, Siargao Island, after a big welcome lunch for guests and all competitors.
The opening ceremony will also attended by top regional, provincial and city officials and other government heads and civic groups in the region.
The tournament will be held in ‘Cloud 9′, a powerful hollow right-hander that has been hailed as one of the 10 best waves in the world and has been frequently compared to the renowned surf areas of Hawaii and Indonesia.
The yearly international surfing tournament is also being fully supported by Department of Tourism (DOT).
The Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational is jointly supported by the Provincial Government of Surigao Del Norte and the support from the Department of Tourism.
Last year, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo also graced an international fishing tournament in this tourism island paradise in Northeastern Mindanao. (pr-inside)
2008 Billabong National Surfing Cup winners bared
General Luna, Siargao Island (September 19) — The national winners of the 2008 Billabong surfing cup were honored during the awarding ceremonies held Thursday (September 18) in this town.
As expected, local surfers from this town dominated both in juniors and seniors category where Dionisio Espejon led the seniors category, winning P30,000 in cash, while the Alipayo brothers composed of Peter Paul and Paul John were declared 1st and 2nd runners-up, respectively, getting home with P10,000 and P7,500 in cash.
Runners-up in the seniors’ category are Zaldy Coldura, Luke Landregan, and Martin Taniegra. They each receive P20,000, P15,000, and P10,000, respectively.
Meanwhile, Danny Coldura was declared champion in the Juniors’ category, winning P15,000 while Mark Canon grabbed the 2nd runner-up position, receiving P5,000.
Four semifinalists both from the two categories also received cash prizes. For the Seniors’ category, the qualifiers received P5,000 each while P1,500 were given to each who qualified in the Juniors category.
Also, the eight participants who made in the quarter finals each received cash prize of P2,5000 for the seniors’ category and P1,000 for the juniors.
A total of P166,500 cash prize were given to winners in this competition. Tomorrow (September 20), the 14th Siargao International Surfing Cup will commence at Cloud 9.
As of press time, 48 confirmed participants including the winners in the national level and from other countries including Australia, Hawaii, Bali Indonesia, Israel, and Japan will vie for the most coveted title as this year’s international surfing champion where US$20,000 cash prize is at stake. (PIA-Caraga)
All set for 14th Siargao Int’l Surfing Cup
General Luna, Siargao Island (September 19) — Preparations for the 14th Siargao International Surfing Cup is set to be finalized this evening as delegates from other countries started to arrive here to compete and vie for the championship prize amounting to US$20,000.
As of press time, 48 surfers are set to participate in this annual event that was given more impetus with the incumbency of former Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers of the province of Surigao del Norte.
An official competitor’s briefing is set to be conducted this evening to inform the participants of the mechanics of the competition.
Tomorrow, Saturday (September 20), Opening Ceremonies will be conducted at Cloud 9 – the contest venue at 10:00 in the morning. Afterwhich, a welcome lunch for guests and international competitors will be hosted by the provincial government of Surigao del Norte.
Aside from the surfing competition, the 2008 Search for Binibining General Luna will be conducted on Sunday (Sept. 21) in time with the celebration of the annual Tikyabang Festival of this town.
Moreover, the annual Gov. Robert Ace Barbers Open Chess Tournament will be also featured as one of the highlights of the activity, as well as the inter-school Modern Dance (Hip-Hop) competition.
The week-long international surfing competition will end on Friday (September 26) in a reception and farewell dinner that will also showcase the Awarding Ceremonies.
It can be recalled that last year, Billabong became the main presentor of this event. During this year, Gov. Barbers signed a memorandum of partnership for three years with the Australian-based firm. From a local surfing event in 1995, the surfing cup has evolved into an internationally competed event now known as the “Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational Surfing Cup”. (PIA-Caraga)
