UNITED PINOY SURFERS: October 2006

Oops Okoy did it again!- Eastern Samar Surfing Challenge

Fresh fresh news!... The awarding is still going on.... The Boys are still there... but i have the results ready for you already!

Okoy proves himself once again!!! Grabbing the 2nd runner up title for the Eastern Samar Surfing Crown. Okoy was actually the first surfer who won the Championship title from this town called GUIUAN in 2002, and now proves himself worthy of another title. Although he did not bag the Championship title once again for his come back, his victory is worth just the same since he has been away from the surfing circuit for two years, as he had to take the licensure exams, and yes, passed it. Just as soon as he was about to compete again, He had a vehicular accident on his way home to Aurora, to supposedly compete for the 10th Aurora Cup. He may have been dismayed by it, but Okoy, determined, did his best to recover as soon as possible from his head injury, just so he could surf once again.

There were only 5 Surfers from Luzon who competed against the " waray" and " Bisaya" surfers. Arnel Hermosura from La union, and Edmund " Dyango" Mendoza made it up to the quarter-finals. Argie " Badboy" Hugo and Joel " Brother" Faraon, both from Baler, Made it up to the Semi- Finals. It was only our own Rommel " Okoy" Rojo", who made it to the finals, competing against 3 siargaonons.

The waves were huge, according to my source, even the top surfers would at times have to throw their boards and dive their way in to cross the huge waves instead of the usual duck dive. While the Waves got huge, so did the white water. The sets were from 4 to 6ft. with outrageous white water that goes double overhead. The Final heat was intense, Eventually the scores were tallied and the close fight, finally came up with rankings.

The Result:
CHAMPION: Dionisio " Dodo" Espejon ( SIA)
1st runner-up: Bonifacio " Arkipo" Figuron (SIA)
2nd runner- up: Rommel " Okoy" Rojo (AU)
3rd Runner-up: Alex " Al-Al " Commandante (SIA)

Salute to Dodo, Arkipo and Al-Al for an overwhelming display of your skills in surfing!
As for the Luzon surfers, although outnumbered, fought hard until one found his way to the finals. Rommel " Okoy" Rojo definitely made his come back a proof and a very good example to all grommets,"put schooling your first priority your surfing could tag along with it, but if trapped to make a decision and choose between the two, choose schooling first because if you really have the "it" for surfing then you're definitely gonna find your way back in and still win". CHEERS TO THE UNITED PINOY SURFERS !!!

Here are some of the immediate responses i got :

Luke Landrigan ( LU ) : Naks si pake!!!!

Joncy Sumulong (MNL) : Big up to my good mate Okoy! He is still slashing the liquid with tremendous authority even after a long hiatus! He's a great example and above all, allegedly has a big.. ehem... heart!

Led Alwyn Saulo ( RP team-Downhill mountain bike/owner KHUMBMELLA): Asteg! After i compete here in matabungkay, I'll bring him goodies from Khumbmella!!!

The First Live Webcam for surfers in the Philippines- trendsetter

Yes, San Juan Surf resort or better known as the Surf Camp is the first resort to have been so generous to the philippine surfing community, gracing everyone with live updates on the everyday status of the waves in La Union. You may click their logo to view their website or you could also click San Juan Surf Resort via the links area.

Rumor has it that the neighboring resort ( Literally a stone throw away) has the same service on thier website, claiming that it is theirs, when it actually leads straight to Surf Camp's own live webcam service! If you are familiar with La union, or better yet, if you frequent Surf Camp, you'd know where the webcam is located at. Right at the balcony of Bryan Landrigan's room!!! The father of Luke Landrigan, propreitor of the resort. Yes, and now one could get the same angle as that of what appears on your monitors, because all other resorts in La Union have blank lots in between each, giving each and every resort their own individual views. I need not to go further on this, It's not right to steal somebody else's work! ask permission. If you can't do that, at least acknowledge the owner and never have the audacity to claim anything that isn't yours.

As for other cheezmaks, I read a forum just today, About some " surfers" talking about Luke's webcam at surfcamp. While it is alright to be copycats, and since anyone could do the same thing nowadays, thanks to cheap webcams, and easy dsl installation now, I just need to make it clear, since i now sense that this is going to be a fad, I wanna declare that........San Juan Surf Resort started the whole live broadcasting of waves in this country. I do not know where this whole article is going, all I know is that at least I have documented it, and if ever so someone wishes to trace the history of surfing ( especially that the history of Philippine surfing is all tangled up about who started surfing first..) This shall at least serve as a proof. That surf camp, started broadcasting End of July 2006. If only I could also stamp a Notary Public dry seal online, i would... hehhehe. Happy surfing!

Peter Kelly says this about the article.

new links!

click long Bored on the links area and have fun!

silly puns

My first job was working in an orange juice factory, but I got canned because I couldn't concentrate. Then I worked in the woods as a lumberjack, but I just couldn't hack it, so they gave me the axe. After that I tried to be a tailor, but I just wasn't suited for it. The job was only so-so anyhow. Next I tried working in a muffler factory, but that was exhausting. I wanted to be a barber, but I just couldn't cut it.I attempted to be a deli worker, but any way I sliced it, I couldn't cut the mustard. My best job was being a musician, but eventually I found I wasn't note worthy. I studied a long time to become a doctor, but I didn't have any patience. Next was a job in a shoe factory; I tried, but I just didn't fit in. I became a professional fisherman, but discovered that I couldn't live on my net income.I thought about becoming a witch, so I tried that for a spell. I managed to get a good job working for a pool maintenance company, but the work was just too draining. My last job was working at Starbucks, but I had to quit, because it was always the same old grind.After many years of trying to find steady work, I finally got a job as a historian, until I realized there was no future in it.

Pacifica Trip!

October 8, 2006

Pacifica, California.

Rockaway Beach at Quarry Cove in Pacifica, California. Located south of the Pacifica Pier along Highway 1. Only 15 minutes from the San Francisco Airport and 15 minutes from downtown San Francisco.

clicke HERE to read more about this article.

A Journey

Circa 2000 Top L-R : Wowie, Spanky, Gino, Moro,Jong, Jake, Antonio, Massimo, Ariel

Mid L-R: Donnah, Anthony, Marj, Charyl

Sand L-R: Chris, Lem, Mickeyboy

It's not the waves you catch,
How hard or how strong.
It's the wind in your hair,
The ocean's song.

Knowing you can't,
Almost certain you can.
Endless blue,
With a bare sight of land.

Getting to know the oceans,
Dolphins and fish your friends.
Too many mistakes,
That you need now not mend.

Okoy and Mahdam-Lanuza 2004

I'd like to take a ride, through the country side, How grand I think that would

be. To cross this land from sea to sea. To see the canyons great and small, The valleys and mountains so tall, I'd like to see so many things, like Volcanoes, and thier smoke filled rings, Then I'd like to see the waterfalls so big and small. But The one thing I want the most, to see, Is you ... on this

journey with me!!!

A Poem to Baler's Rommel Postor

Lone Surfer

Looking beyond the crowds
the search continues.
Hunting for the elusive
empty peak.
Not wanting to become part of the masses
nor needing the safety of numbers.
There is one
who ventures out.

At ease and finding peace
in the rythmic bobbing
of the lonesome lineup.

PARTAS' new buses! GENESIS in La Union?

Everyone!!! The partas terminal in Sampaloc is finally open! Well Actually it's been open for about two months.... But finally Okoy and I got to get a ride on one and boy!!! these new set of buses are literally brand new!!! still with the same rate as that in Cubao, the ones in Sampaloc Manila however are completely fresh, and really nice! It's like being on a deluxe trip.

Okoy and I just came back home from La union.... waited for the bus along the highway with the boys... still drinking Tangjun's new mix....took us an hour to finally get partas' newest bus...( real nice interior) we brought our monoblock chairs...sitting as if we were gonna be gunned by firing squad, and continued drinking... twas sweet... as always... my la union babies would always be there to get me inside the bus on my way home. now okoy and i are having this terrible separation anxiety leaving them... as the bus moving away... watching them still continuing to drink tangjun's mix along the highway.... haaayyyy.... anyway.... will be back there on my birthday...and that would be next week!...

Going Back to Partas sampaloc....While I would always, always wait for Cubao's Partas terminal's de luxe at 10 pm all the time just to get comfy all the way to la union, this time, i won't have to wait til 10 pm or feel bad if i miss the 10pm de luxe trip because the regular buses in sampaloc are competely like the deluxe ones in the cubao and pasay terminals. What's even better is that you have the comforts of a deluxe bus and paying only the regular rate of 395 pesos. really good price! Try it!

More update about this soon when I finally get the chance to find the number and schedule of the new terminal!

One More thing.... There's Genesis in La Union now ( " GENESIS" is the official bus company to Baler Aurora... or should I say the safest way to get to Baler). However, They don't have a La union- Baler trip yet or vise versa. Hopefully they would have those even if it's coming from Baguio- Baler and vise versa instead of the ragedy D-liner buses that would give you a heart attack because of the driving and rashes because of the heat since it doesnt have airconditioning!!! Pray!!! If that happens, then travelling to Baler and La Union from both ends would be a breeze. easier to follow the swell coz the Pacific and China seas are reachable already.Let's hope for the best Luzon Surfers!

Well, Happy trip guys!

The Luzon Team- 8th Siargao National Surfing Competition

So here's the buzzzzzz...... There were 5 surfers from la Union, and 4 from Baler who competed against 60 others from siargao.

Luzon Team= La Union and Baler

La union team :

Ibrahim " Moro" Gandawali