Siargao Cup on today

MANILA, Philippines – Siargao, one of Conde Nast Traveler’s world’s best islands, hosts starting today the 25th Siargao International Surfing Cup, drawing a crack field of participants showing their wares in what’s considered one of the best surf sites in the world. 

Sanctioned QS1,500 by the World Surf League (WSL) Asia, the Siargao Cup is the first and longest running international surfing event in the Philippines. 

Siargao Rep. Bingo Matugas, the lead organizer for this year’s event, said the 25th edition is being held in honor of the late Atty. Jaime Rusillon, former mayor of General Luna, Surigao del Norte who passed away early this year.

Rusillon, with the support of Surigao del Norte Gov. Francisco “Lalo” Matugas, started the series of surfing tournaments in 1993 with the Siargao Surfing Classic.

“This is a milestone for Siargao and the entire surfing industry since we are commemorating our 25th year. But most importantly, we are staging this event to honor the father of surfing in Siargao, Mayor Jaime Rusillon,” said Rep. Matugas.

“He had the vision of putting Cloud 9 in the global tourism map and, with the support of his good friend, Gov. Francisco ‘Lalo’ Matugas, made possible the staging of the event year after year, without let-up, despite the challenges they faced,” said the congressman.