In her brief message at the opening of the First Siargao Game Fishing Invitational Competition, the President said the holding of the anglers’ tourney here would open up the island, specifically the municipality of Pilar, as a game fishing destination.

“There are only two good game fishing sites in the country–one is in Cagayan province and now Siargao.

“Siargao, aside from being one of the world’s best surfing destinations, also has an incredible game fishing areas that make Siargao as an adventure sports tourism paradise,” the President said.

The President said she has experienced surfing in Dako island where she frolicked with “cloud 9″ which is considered one of the world’s top surfing waves.

“But today, we are telling the world Siargao has also incredible game fishing spots,” the President said as she formally opened the game fishing tourney that gathered 70 anglers from 10 countries that include anglers from Taiwan, People’s Republic of China, Brunei, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Russia and the Philippines.

The anglers’ tourney showcases the island’s abundant seas to the rest of the world.

Siargao Island’s marine life is inhabited by thousands of fish species including giant tuna, tanguigue, king mackerel, great barracuda, swordfish and marlin.

Deep-sea fishing is topnotch here especially from March to May when the big fish such as sailfish weighing 40 kilograms and marlin as heavy as 200 kilograms cruise the deep water only a mile or two off the shores of the municipality of Gen. Luna.

But one could fish for coral trout, large snappers and other reef fish anytime.

Siargao is composed of 48 islands and islets-politically divided into nine municipalities—-Burgos, Dapa, Del Carmen, Gen. luna, Pilar, San Benito, San Isidro, Santa Monica, and Socorro.

It boasts of having the largest contiguous mangrove in the country with around 8,760 hectares.

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Matugas gave an additional P200,000 from his provincial development assistance program (PDAF) for the big event.

The solon met Tuesday with Siargao Island’s nine mayors and ranking officials of government agencies involved in the tournament, such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Tourism (DoT).

Aside from several activities during the four day fishing competition,

A “Miss Siargao” contest, in the charge of Dapa Mayor Peter Ruaya is expected to add color to the four-day festivities.

The tournament to is the first of its kind in the southern island and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a surfing dilettante, is the scheduled guest of honor and speaker at the opening ceremonies at the Magpopongko Beach.

Among the entries are those from Australia, United States of America, Hongkong, Japan, Malaysia, Korea and Indonesia, and other neighboring Asian countries.

Matugas added that three of the country’s national and prestigious game fishing clubs, the Philippine Game Fishing Foundation, the Philippine Sports Fishing Club and the Silver Jack Fishing Club of Manila, have also confirmed participation.

Meanwhile, in an effort to make other tourist destinations accessible in this so called “Siargao Island of Paradise”, where the famous surfing sports haven is also located, the DPWH is also fast-tracking several multi-million infrastructure projects in the island.

Concurrently, Ratugas said the DPWH regional and provincial district engineering offices and local government units (LGUs)are cementing the P130-million Dapa-Del Pilar section of the highway.

Construction and improvement of the P140-million airport’ terminal, runway extension, parking area, fencing and ATO offices is ongoing while a P70-million bridges in General Luna is alo under construction.

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Photo Credits : Kage Gozun

The campaign of the Department of Tourism (DoT) to make the country a premier surfing destination is beginning to get recognition. With a coastline twice as long as the United States, the Philippines is slowly but surely securing a place in the surfing world.

In cooperation with Department of Tourism, Onboard Philippines hopes to grow the local surfing industry, explore the numerous opportunities that it presents for Philippine tourism as well as empower and support the country’s growing community of local surfers, says Freddy Gonzalez of Aloha Board Sports Inc.

“With each discovery, however, one realizes that we have barely plumbed the extraordinary depths of our country’s surf culture –a facet of the Philippines that can potentially secure our place on the international tourism map,” he adds.

Gonzalez, along with the Aloha Boardsports Surf Team, plans to surf across the country’s most notable surfing destinations, which include Badoc Island in Ilocos Norte, Baler in Aurora, Catanduanes, Daet in Camarinas Norte, La Union, Pagudpud, Samar, Siargao Island, Cabugao in Ilocos Sur and Zambales.

These are only a few examples of the country’s notable surf-spots, where tales of monster swells and majestic waves are the primary lure.

The campaign will be supported by DoT Secretary Ace Durano, also an honorary Aloha Boardsports Surf Team member.

The move hopes to explore the country’s top tourism and surfing destination.

Flanked by beach-breaks powered by a living and breathing ocean, it was only a matter of time before the Philippines left its legendary mark on international surf-lore.

This is a whole new tourism wave that will bring a different segment of tourists to Philippine shores, Gonzales says.

The Philippines is already a unique tourist destination unto itself surfing is an opportunity to broaden its inherent potential to be recognized by a rising new global tourism sub-culture,” he adds.

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Gov. Barbers said activity is in cooperation with the Department of Tourism (DOT). Surigao del Norte was chosen by the DOT to be one of the surfing destinations in which this training will be conducted.

It maybe recalled that surfing is the most awaited annual sports activity in the province. Started in 1995, it has now evolved into a world-class and widely contested event. The provincial government is looking forward to a successful tournament this year.

Siargao’s ‘Cloud 9′, a powerful hollow right-hander, will provide an idyllic setting for the who’s who of world surfing, contestants coming from as far as Australia, Bali, Tahiti, Hawaii, Japan and the USA.

Due to Siargao’s proximity to the Philippines, big swells from the Pacific Ocean roll in from the second deepest stretch of water in the world to create flawless hollow barreling waves.

Boasting US$20,000 in prize money, the exclusive invitational event offers a world-class field of 48 invited surfers a chance to compete at one of Asia’s hottest surfing destinations.

Billabong General Manager South East Asia, Chris James, said sponsorship of the Billabong Cloud 9 invitational is a continued commitment to promoting the sport of surfing throughout the region.

“Cloud 9 is one of the most perfect right hand reef breaks in the world,” said James. “To invite 48 tube riding specialists to a wave of this caliber has serious potential to bring world class surfing to South East Asia,” James added.

Similarly, Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Ace Barbers said, “the provincial government of Surigao del Norte is very pleased with Billabong’s sponsorship of this year’s international surfing competition.”

“Surfing is the most awaited sports tourism activity in the province. Started in 1995, it has now evolved into a world-class and widely contested event. We are looking forward to a successful tournament this year.”

The 2007 line-up includes profile surfers such as Mark Matthews (Maroubra, NSW, AUS), Jamie O’Brien (Oahu, HAW), Manoa Drollet (Tahiti), Dylan Longbottom (Gold Coast, AUS), Makua Rothman (Oahu, HAW), Ryan Augenstein (California, USA), Luke Dorrington (Gold Coast, AUS) and Asher Pacey (Gold Coast, AUS).

The seven-day tournament will run from Monday, September 24th to Sunday, September 30th. The opening ceremony will be staged on Monday, 24th with competition commencing that day.

The tournament site is Siargao Islands ‘Cloud 9′, a powerful hollow right-hander that has been hailed as one of the ten best waves in the world and has been frequently compared to the renowned surf of Hawaii and Indonesia.

The Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational is proudly supported by the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte with the support from Smart Communications, San Miguel, the Department of Tourism Philippines, Asian Spirit and Coca Cola.

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