SABANG BEACH, BALER, AURORA – During a post-heat interview at the 2023 Akkaw Baler National Surfing Competition, the Men’s Masters Champion, Joel Faraon, delivered a message that shook the foundations of Philippine surfing. While other pioneers preferred to keep their spots secret, Faraon called on the nation to let the younger generation surf.

“Nasaang sulok man kayo ng Pilipinas at may magaganda kayong alon, i-expose niyo po, ‘wag niyo po itago kasi para po yan sa ating lahat na Pilipino. (Wherever in the Philippines you may be and you have good waves where you are, expose your spot. Don’t hide it because surfing belongs to all Filipinos.)”
Faraon, or “Brader” to his peers because of his Iglesia ni Cristo background, praised the level of surfing that he witnessed in Akkaw Baler. He was notably proud of the young Baler guns for keeping up with the Siargaonons, known contenders for world-class surfing.
“May ibang talent ang Pilipino talaga at kaya nating makipagsabayan sa buong daigdig mala- Manny Pacquiao at Paeng Nepomuceno. Ang Pilipino ay kayang maging top-ranking #1. (Filipinos have a distinct talent that allows us to compete alongside the best in the world, just like Manny Pacquiao and Paeng Nepomuceno. The Filipino can really be #1 in the world.)”
“Yung nangyayari sa atin ngayon, ito yung pangarap namin noon (What we are experiencing now was our dream before.)”, shared Contest Director, Ian Saguan, who was present during the early Bay’s Inn Challenge surf competitions in Baler.
Leg 3 – done
Baler racks up a total of 3 titles in the Akkaw Baler National Surfing Competition, their biggest haul in this year’s tour so far. Joel Faraon wins in the Men’s Masters, Neil Sanchez in the Men’s Open Shortboard, and Cathleya Casals in the Junior Girls– Baler’s past, present, and future are represented accordingly.

Siargao and Sorsogon each take home a Shortboard Title while La Union brings two Longboard Titles back to their surf town.





Here are the results of the Akkaw Baler National Surfing Competition, a Grade 2 event:
Junior Girls
1st: Cathleya Casals (Baler)
2nd: Mara Lopez (La Union)
Equal 3rd: Janel Proceso (Baler)
Equal 3rd: Lady Joy Vargas (Baler)
Junior Boys
1st: Jayuard Alciso (Siargao)
2nd: Julius Isaguirre (Baler)
Equal 3rd: Toby Espejon (Siargao)
Equal 3rd: Troy Espejon (Siargao)
Women’s Open Shortboard
1st: Vea Estrellado (Sorsogon)
2nd: Lolit “Mocha” Edusma (Daet)
Equal 3rd: Daisy Valdez (La Union)
Equal 3rd: Susan Escanilla (Siargao)
Men’s Open Shortboard
1st: Neil Sanchez (Baler)
2nd: Robert Magaluna (Siargao)
Equal 3rd: Jhandel Ramos (Baler)
Equal 3rd: Cliford Lumasac (Baler)
Women’s Open Longboard
1st: Daisy Valdez (La Union)
2nd: Ashlee Lopez (La Union)
Equal 3rd: Mara Lopez (La Union)
Equal 3rd: Antoinette Valdez (La Union)
Men’s Open Longboard
1st: Rogelio Esquivel (La Union)
2nd: June Esquivel (La Union)
Equal 3rd: Benito Nerida (La Union)
Equal 3rd: Mark Serjay Aguila (Baler)
Men’s Masters
1st: Joel Faraon (Baler)
2nd: Rommel Rojo (Baler)
Equal 3rd: Ronald Torre (Baler)
Equal 3rd: Ryan Lumasac (Baler)
Up next is the Surf City Borongan Masters, the first Grade 3 event of this year’s national tour. Winners of this event will amass massive points that will catapult them to the top of the rankings as well as enjoy the biggest cash purses of the event yet:
1st Place: 1000 points (P80,000.00 cash prize)
2nd Place: 800 points (P50,000.00 cash prize)
Equal 3rd: 650 points (P25,000.00 cash prize)
Equal 5th: 600 points (P10,000.00 cash prize)
The Surf City Borongan Masters is also the first leg to run a Juniors Longboard category to further strengthen the world-class longboarding talent that Filipino surfers are capable of.
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About UPSA
The UPSA is the sole recognized National Sports Association (NSA) for developing and promoting surfing in the Philippines. This recognition was granted by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) through Republic Act 6847. As the national governing body for surfing in the Philippines recognized by the International Olympic Committee, UPSA continues to support and foster the growth of exceptional surf athletes like Jay-r Esquivel, Jr.
About Pilipinas Surfing
Pilipinas Surfing is the country’s premiere professional surfing championship tournaments with multiple competitions held at different regions around the Philippines. These events are sanctioned under your Local Government Unit (LGU) as part of the only national competitions in a unifying and collective series of national legs around the country.