GENERAL LUNA, Siargao Island — A local surfer, who has been suffering from a lower back injury, reigned supreme in the 19th National Siargao Surfing Cup Thursday, September 21.
Philmar Alipayo, a native of this town, bested over 180 rivals to advance to the 23rd Siargao International Surfing Competition slated Saturday, September 23.
“I have an existing lower back injury but through preparation and training, I surpassed the challenges to capture the national championship," the 25-year-old Alipayo said.
He sustained his injury from a competition last year in Indonesia, where he also won the championship. Despite occassional backaches, the Siargao native said this did not dissuade him from training harder.
Alipayo and the country's top-rank surfers will join the biggest surfing event in the country, where they will be up against the best international surfers.
The six-day 19th Siargao National Surfing Cup is sanctioned by the Philippine Surfing Championship Tour (PSCT), participated in by a total of 186 surfing enthusiasts from different regions across the country.
Alipayo's townmate, Piso Alcala, placed second, followed by another Siargao native John Mark Tokong, last year's champion, and Jay-R Esquivel from La Union.
PSCT chair Luke Ladringan said this year's Siargao national tourney is the country’s first-ever and only professional surfing tournament. Patterned after the World Surf League, surfers from all over the Philippines tour around different surf spots to battle for the top spot in the national rankings.
“PSCT’s vision is to be the venue for professional surfing in the Philippines that follows International Surfing Association standards of competition, preparing Filipino athletes for the international stage while promoting camaraderie and unity of the surfing community,” Ladringan said. (PNA/Roel N. Catoto)
