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it is now completely reliant on Tourism, coconuts are no longer harvested for their copra and fishing in the town has practically disappeared, fishermen have become trike drivers and tour boat operators and coconut harvesters have become surf instructors. “Sea of Darkness” about surfers who sustained their addiction to surfing with illicit activities. Overall, the change that surf tourism has brought about in Siargao has been a positive one. New business establishments have been set up providing employment for its residents and property values have skyrocketed, allowing locals to invest more in the island’s development. The local government has been involved in the development of surfing on the island from the very beginning, in fact, the former Mayor of General Luna, Jaime Russillon (now deceased) is credited by many as the father of Philippine surfing. The former Mayor helped set up the infrastructure to support surf tourism in the area such as the iconic Cloud 9 tower and Surfing events such as annual Siargao International Surfing Cup, now on its 25th year. (read page 22) More than any other watersport, surfing is a lifestyle, it has changed communities from Nicaragua to Bali. All one needs to get started in surfing is a surfboard and consistent waves called surf breaks, which the eastern coast of Siargao has plenty of. Other than open water swimming, very few watersport activities requires so little investment, this fact has allowed the sport to take hold in a community in less than a decade. Surfing has changed Siargao forever, so much so that the municipality of General Luna or GL as locals call Overall, the change that surf tourism has brought about in Siargao has been a positive one. The natural features of Siargao has made it the surfing capital of the Philippines, with more than a dozen surfing spots all around the side of the island facing the Pacific Ocean. The depths of the Philippine Trench helps ensure the tide from the Pacific has sufficient power when it hits the reefs near Siargao’s eastern shore creating wave breaks that surfers love. The most famous of these spots is Cloud 9, known for its barreling waves preferred by professional surfers, a short distance north from Cloud Learning area near cloud 9 with smallers waves for newbies 62