World-class surfing advocate gets stoked with Cebu Pacific

MANILA, Philippines- What could be more exhilarating than riding mighty waves that go as high as 15 to 20 feet? Perhaps Paolo Soler, a world-class Filipino surfing instructor, knows.

As the first Filipino to be certified by the Academy of Surfing Instructors in Australia, and the co-founder of the Philippine Surfing Academy, Paolo avidly travels across the nation to promote the sport while riding the country’s finest waves. For him, traveling is an essential part of a surfer’s life — whether locally or internationally.

“Surfing is the most natural human recreational activity that requires no audience or point system,” Paolo says. “Being immersed in nature and feeling its energy reward the surfer with a blissful feeling only the surfer can fully understand. It is usually referred to in surfer lingo as the feeling of being stoked.”

For Paolo, there are at least five world-class surfing destinations in the country.

“The top surfing destination in the Philippines based on popularity and tourists arrivals would probably be San Juan, La Union since this is the first surfing destination to be discovered,” he shares.

“Second would be Siargao Island because of the world-famous Cloud Nine barrels. This is where huge international surfing companies like Quiksilver and Billabong hold competitions. San Antonio, San Narciso, and San Felipe in Zambales province are all third placers, followed by Baler, Aurora, and Daet. But my favorite is Calicoan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar because it is not crowded and has beautiful white sand beaches and consistent world-class waves.”

Surf’s up: Coach Paolo Soler has big hopes for the Philippine surfing scene, and big plans for local tourism.

Taking Paolo to these breathtaking surfing destinations is Cebu Pacific, the country’s largest flag carrier. With its trademark low fares and extensive route network, passionate surfers like Paolo can easily catch direct flights to surfing destinations such as Siargao, Bicol, and Samar.

Before CEB offered their direct Cebu-Siargao flights, Paolo and other surfers had to take numerous modes of transportation just to be able to surf Cloud Nine.

“Now, with direct flights from Cebu, I predict that Siargao will share a similar developmental pattern to Bali, Indonesia,” he says.

Together with the Philippine Surfing Academy and the Department of Tourism, Paolo aims to accredit surfing instructors and schools in the Philippines under the Academy of Surfing Instructors. For Paolo and the team, the accreditation from the international certifying body will help make surfing the country’s next biggest tourist attraction, with a potential to tap over 10 million surfers worldwide.

“Surfing is such an eco-friendly activity with great tourism revenue potential. We have the world-class waves for it, so I want surfing to become our next big offer to the world,” he says. “We should take advantage and penetrate a global surfing market, who are just waiting for the easiest way to our epic surfing destinations.”

“I always tell my students that surfing in the Philippines is at the golden age, where things are just beginning and the lineups aren’t as crowded,” Paolo notes. “The feeling of riding our waves is something you just won’t get in other places. So the best place to be if you are a surfer is right here at home. Keep it local, surf local breaks and help contribute to your country’s tourism industry.”

Putting the spotlight on the talent and passion of Filipino surfers, Paolo has faith that more of his fellow surfers will soon champion local surfing destinations that are world-class, helping the Philippine surfing scene ride higher than ever.