GAME FISHING BACK IN SIARGAO. Sen. Imee Marcos graces the opening of the 13th Siargao International Gamefishing Tournament on April 21, 2023, in Pilar, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte together with Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas II, former Gov. Francisco Matugas, and Pilar town Mayor Maria Liza Resurreccion. A total of 31 anglers from the Philippines and other parts of the world will compete for the crown of the three-day sports event. (PNA photo by Alexander Lopez)
PILAR, Siargao Island – Thirty-one professional anglers from five countries, including the Philippines, are competing in the 13th Siargao International Gamefishing Tournament here.
The competition opened Friday in this island’s municipality in Surigao del Norte province and will run until April 23.
Two of the professional anglers are from Japan, with one participant each from Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The rest of the anglers are from the Philippines representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Senator Imee Marcos graced the opening ceremony together with Surigao del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas II, Department of Tourism (DOT) Assistant Secretary Christopher Morales, and Pilar town Mayor Maria Liza Resurreccion, among others.
The mayor officially signaled the start of the tournament around 11:45 a.m. when the participants, with their respective boatmen, left the shores of Pilar for fishing.
“Siargao is again on track after the pandemic and typhoon Odette with the opening of this international sports event,” Marcos said, as she thanked the island's top officials for inviting her to witness the occasion.
Marcos said her priority programs and projects are focused on the welfare of the farmers and fisherfolk to help them recover from the effects of the pandemic and the recent calamities.
Meanwhile, Rep. Matugas said he is elated with the return of international game fishing in Pilar town.
“The unprecedented health crisis and the severe damage caused by typhoon Odette have made everything come to a halt. Today, we rise above the challenges that we encountered and get back on our feet again,” he said.
The 12th tournament was staged in 2019 and was halted for over three years due to the pandemic.
Former governor Matugas, regarded as the “Father of Siargao Gamefishing Tournament,” said the return of the event in Pilar is a testament to the bounty of the waters of Siargao Island.
“This bounty remained and must even be more plentiful after two years of hiatus,” Matugas said.
Morales, who represented DOT Secretary Maria Christina Frasco said Siargao is not only known as a surfing destination but also a playground for sports fishing.
“We admire the local government and what the community has done to preserve the sanctity of our waters while still maintaining what it is now an anglers’ paradise,” he said.
DOT-13 Regional Director Ivonne Dumadag said the return of major international events on the island "sends a powerful message to the world that Caraga Region remains strong, resilient, and is now ready to welcome guests to its beautiful destinations." (PNA)
