It’s always a challenge for the provincial government of Surigao del Norte to some up with new and attractive ideas to make surfing events memorable. As the 11 th Siargao International Surfing Cup was on September 26 – October 2, 2005 in Gen. Luna, Siargao Island. It has made another big leap of making Siargao as the Surfing Capital of the Philippines.

       The Surfign Cup’s kick-off on September 26 was a press conference and briefing of the participants and a welcome dinner was prepared for the international surfers. The opening ceremony was led by no less the young and energetic Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers, Mayor Cecilia Rusillon and former Mayor Atty. Jaime Rusillon, DOT OIC Reg. Direc. Letecia DC-Tan who was tasked to deliver the speech of ODT Sec. Ace Durano. Othe key personalities include Prov’l. Tourism Officer, Arturo Cruje and Chair of the Tourism Committee in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Board Member Merlinda Lagroma.

       Excitement filled the air of Siargao as the traditional breaking of a surf board was made symbolizing the formal opening of the surfing event. The surfing activity would never be that exciting and enjoying without the live band concert, rave party and the parade of beautiful bodies in their beautiful skimpy bikinis at the Bikini Open on Sept. 28 at the Cabuntog Lodge.

Winners of the said International Surfing Cup were as follows: Grand Champion, Ryan Augustein from California, USA with a cash prize of PhP175,000.00, 1 st Runner- Up, Josh Fuller of Australia (PhP100,000.00), 2 nd, Hayato Maki of Tokyo, Japan (PhP75,000.00), 3 rd, Dayane Neve od Australia (PhP50,000.00), 4 th, Matt Clark (Australia), Even Faulks, Dionisio Espejon (Gen. Luna) and Mark Visser (Australia) with PhP20,000.00 each, 5 th Runner-up, Scott Yealland (Australia), Shane Bevan (Australia), Masahiro Toda (Japan), Richard Vaculik (Australia), Glen Turner (Australia) Damian Cush (Australia), Rodulfo Alcala (Gen. Luna) and Zaldy Coldura (Gen. Luna) each receives PhP10,000.00 each.

       Gov. Barbers had stayed throughout the whole event and expressed his heartfelt thanks to the local government unit of Gen. Luna headed by Mayor Cecilia Rusillon, saying that the partnership and cooperation initiated by the province have made the event successful. Governor Barbers also added that “after all, the ultimate goal of developing tourism in the local perspective, is the well being of the community; the success and failure of tourism will also depend on the general public and their cooperation”.

       The 11 th Siargao International Surfing Cup grows into a major tourism gateway and a perfect destination for surfing enthusiasts. It continues to woo Asia Pacific tourist with a winning combination of “sun, sand and surf”.