april-2012

PAGUDPUD in Ilocos Norte might
not be the fi rst place that comes to
mind when one thinks of surfi ng in the
Philippines; the windmills in Bangui
have more often than not taken the
spotlight when it comes to “things to
do north of Laoag.” But the coastal
resort town, open to winds that come
in through both the South China Sea
and Pacifi c Ocean, actually make it
quite ideal for wave riders of various
skill levels.
No one is quite sure who fi rst surfed
the waves of this rugged, windswept
coastline. From personal memory, it
wasn’t until the last decade or so that
word began to spread around about its
possibly virgin breaks. And even then,
only the most intrepid of surfers would
bother with the journey up to camp
or fi nd small resorts in the hopes of
scoring waves.
Whether you are a beginner or a
world-class surfer, you will probably
want to base yourself near the area
known as The Blue Lagoon in Maira-
Ira Point. This is often where student
surfers are taken to get their fi rst taste
of the surf. If you have booties or reef
socks, bring them. The waves might
be gentler here, but the bottom is still
reef and it’s best to be protected. The
booties aren’t absolutely necessary but
they do help.
Only a 15-minute walk away from
The Blue Lagoon are four major surf
spots — Dos Hermanos, Private,
Vista and Heartbreak. All are in front
of Kapuluan Vista Resort, and have
gained popularity throughout the years
for their accessibility as well as their
consistency during the surf season.
(Fun fact: Heartbreak was so named
because it broke the hearts of those
who fi rst surfed it to have to leave it.)
Two more breaks, Level Up and Bantay
Abot, are just around the corner. It takes
a bit of a paddle to get to some of the
spots but, when all the right factors
align, it all becomes incredibly worth it.
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PHOTOS MARK DIMALANTA