GUIUAN, E. SAMAR, Philippines — The heat is on at this town, which is considered the Surfing Capital of the Visayas. From October 9 to 14, the 8th Guiuan Odyssey Waves National Surfing Competition will be held in the seas of Calicoan Island in this tourism town of Eastern Samar.
The annual surfing event will be attended by more than a hundred professional surfers from Manila, Daet of Camarines Norte, Baler of Quezon, Siargao of Surigao del Norte, Lanuza of Surigao del Sur, Pagudpud of Ilocos Norte, Leyte and La Union provinces, Borongan City of Eastern Samar and other parts of the country.
Municipal Tourism Officer Aurora delos Reyes told The Freeman the national competition would promote Guiuan further as a premiere surfing destination in the Visayas. She mentioned other side events such as acoustic night, bikini open and reggae beach party through the contest duration.
Before the main event, personnel of the local government unit, the Guiuan Media Bureau, Radio Natin Guiuan, barangay officials, and individual volunteers will have a coastal clean-up “in support of the environmental program of the Climate Change Commission and the Guiuan LGU, being the first Eco-town in the entire Visayas.” Delos Reyes said.
The grand surfing event, organized by the Guiuan Surf Club, the LGU itself and the Department of Tourism, is brought to you by Mayor Annaliz Gonzales-Kwan, the Eastern Samar provincial government headed by Governor Conrado Nicart Jr and Vice Governor Christopher Sheen Gonzales and the Provincial Board Members.
Sponsors of the event are Billabong Philippines and Aloha Boardsports, Calicoan Surf Camp, Calicoan Ocean Villas, Andoks, and Radiate, while the media partners are Radyo Natin Guiuan, Guiuan Media Bureau, Dyaryo del Sur, DyVL Aksyon Radio-Tacloban, GMA-7 Cebu, Sports Unlimited, The Philippine Star and The Freeman Cebu. (FREEMAN)