Anna Carlissa Arriola

If you want to visit Baler and Learn Surfing, you can now travel to Baler for as low as P9,034 per person (double/triple sharing), you can enjoy a 4D 3N surfing trip to Baler, Aurora. All packages include round-trip airfare via Seair (Manila-Baler-Manila); 4 days/3 nights accommodation at Bahia de Baler, Bay’s Inn or Amco Beach Resort; daily breakfasts; a half-day surfing lesson; round-trip airport transfers and 12% EVAT. So what are you waiting for? Book now!

For reservations, please call SEAIR-LEP at (632) 843-7308. Rates are subject to change without prior notice.

All you have to do is leave a comment in “Summer fun in Baler” and tell us why surfing is fun and why Baler is such a great place by Sunday, 3 May 2008, at 8:00 p.m.

Like the previous raffle, make sure you place your full name in the name field since you will need a valid ID to claim the tickets if you win. The winner will be drawn at random and will be notified by e-mail so make sure you double check your e-mail address before submitting your comment. Finally, one entry per IP address so only the first entry from each IP address will be counted.

Tickets will be valid from now until 15 October 2008. Good luck!

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.

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.

The activity hopes to market the beautiful beaches and captivating coastlines of Davao Oriental as well as advocate environmental awareness. During the said event will be the launching of DOT’s “Baybay nato ni Bay” – a Coastal Management Campaign.

To make the program more effective, this project targets the participation of the Sangguniang Kabataan of the entire region. By involving the SK as its barangay partners, the project shall attempt to install a strong sense of responsibility and make the youth fully cognizant of their crucial role in our community. However, the event is open to anyone who wishes to join.

A lecture on the basics of Surfing and Skimboarding will be given by WOOSH Davao to introduce the sports, which are rapidly gaining popularity among locals, to the participants of the event. A fraction of the delegation will be given the chance to do actual Surfing and Skimboarding with the experts.

A welcome dinner will be hosted by the Mayor Michelle Rabat of the city of Mati after which a Globe Party follows with music and prizes at stake. On the second night, the provincial government of Davao Oriental headed by governor Cora Malanyaon will be hosting a fellowship dinner and a San Miguel Beer Night shall come after that Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils. will be setting up its latest innovation The Coke Chillout Bar for the entire duration.

In celebration of the World Clean-Up Day, the activity shall end with a Coastal Clean-Up on September 16, 2007.

For more information, you may contact 09166233338, 09195690463 or DOT OFC at 2210070. (DOT XI/PIA XI)