Cantilan, Surigao del Sur—Local and national surfers will converge in the town of Cantilan on November 19-23, 2012, for the 5th Cantilan National Surfing Competition. The surfing contest will be held in two venues: first in Baybay II beach and the second at Ayoke Island, with junior and open categories for the competition.For the first time, the local government unit of Cantilan will spearhead the surfing competition with the goal of sealing the town as one of the country’s top surfing destinations.
Cantilan Mayor Genito Guardo, said they are now partnering with the original organizer of the previous surfing event.
“We came to the decision of taking part in this surfing event to help promote our town as an eco-tourism destination. Our hope is that with this competition, Cantilan would be considered as one of the country’s surfing destinations,” said Mayor Guardo.
In time, the Cantilan mayor adds, he hopes that Cantilan will also be recognized as a surfing destination just like its neighboring towns of Lanuza and Siargao. “We can’t claim it away from our neighbors, the town of Lanuza and especially with that of Siargao, but to be considered as an alternative destination is good enough for us. We are still in the infant stage in tourism promotion compared to other towns but this would be a great start and would show what we’ve got.”
Mayor Guardo also shared that Ayoke Island, for instance, has been a long-kept secret by foreign surfers who discovered its great surfing breaks more than eight years ago. Now, it has become a well-known spot among foreigners and local surfers alike.
Loanne Huelma, a member of the event committee secretariat, said that the event is all about promoting Cantilan and the sport of surfing while showing to everyone the rich eco-system the town has to offer.
“The competition will let everyone know that we also have good surfing spots here in our town and world class waves that will surely challenge skilled surfers. When we first started back in December 5, 2008, it was a competition between local surfers and friends, then it grew into a bigger event as the years went by,” said Huelma who also personally organized all the other four surfing competitions in Cantilan.
Huelma believes that this year more surfers will participate in the competition since the event is just a day after the more popular 2012 Lanuza Surfing Festival in the town of Lanuza, an hour and 45 minutes ride away from Cantilan.
Here are the event’s schedule of activities and venues:
November 19 (Monday), Baybay II
• Arrival of participants
• Registration
• Opening program at 3 p.m.
• Beach clean-up
• Tree planting activity
November 20 (Tuesday), Baybay II
• First day of surfing competition, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Start of photo contest
• Surf and Skim Clinic
• Live Band/ Beach Party/Disco, from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight
November 21 (Wednesday), Ayoke Island
• Second day of surfing competition, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Photo contest
• Surf and skim clinic
November 22 (Thursday), Ayoke Island
• Semi-Finals, from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Photo Contest
• Surf and Skim Clinic
• Beach clean-up
• Fire dance show
November 23 (Friday), Baybay II
• Finals, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Beach clean-up
• Awarding ceremony, 8 p.m.
• Photo contest awarding
• Beach Party/Live Band/Disco, from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight
• For inquiries and more details, contact Loanne Huelma through 0919-4733108 or e-mail cantilan_surf_association@yahoo.com.
source: interaksyon.com
