april-2012

The surf is Siargao’s main draw,
and many of the locals have
learned to surf alongside the pros
BEYOND THE
SURF IN SIARGAO
There are other things you , ll
need to know besides wind
direction and wave height for
the full Siargao experience:
STAY at Sagana Beach Resort
(tel: +63 919 809 5769, sagana@
cloud9surf.com), which has the
best view of Cloud 9. Let owner
Gerry Degan take you there.
EAT local fare of grilled
seafood — it , s so tasty and
fresh, you almost feel like
you , ve just bought it off the
fisherman , s boat!
MAKE a side trip to Sohoton
Cove, a secluded lagoon an
hour away by pumpboat from
Gen. Luna. It , s accessible
through a cave during the
low tide.
EXPLORE the outlying
islets such as Guyam (which
shifts shape), Dako (so called
only because it , s bigger than
Guyam), and Pansukian or
Naked Island (a giant sandbar).
S URFING NORTH TO SOUTH
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Surf’s up
The year is now 2012 and every surfer worth his or her salt has
a Siargao story to tell. Cloud 9 may be the area’s most famous
swell, but there are others worth trying, each with a nickname
and wave personality of its own — Jacking Horse, Tuason
Left, Rock Island, Stimpies and Pacifi co. The sheer variety of
the waves, ranging from the small, easy-to-maneuver ones to
the mighty and towering curls that form perfect barrels, makes
Siargao the country’s undisputed surf capital.
Although I’ve been back quite often, every time I begin
packing my bags and my equipment, placing everything
in order the night before the trip, it brings me back to when
the search began, sitting in front of my computer so long
ago — a little more foolish and smoother-skinned — hunting
down pictures of this legendary wave, hungry for information
or rumor, or both. I’ve realized that, for those just like me
who were lucky enough to have found it, the unforgettable
experiences and the yearly journey are still part of a search
that never really ends.
Cebu Pacifi c fl ies from Cebu to Siargao. www.cebupacifi cair.com
PHOTOS MARK DIMALANTA (OPENING SPREAD), KATHY CHUA-GRIMME