NOTE: This was first published by BicoldotPH on Aug. 11, 2025.

BARAS, Catanduanes—The four-day Majestic Surfing Cup 2025 in this town extended into a five-day event due to the absence of waves on the afternoon of the third day, but no one could be heard complaining.

Although the town of Baras has been holding the same competition for years, this year’s Majestic Surfing Cup is the first competition sanctioned by the United Philippine Surfing Association (UPSA), which means its results could be the basis for selecting surfers from the region to compete in national and international events.

Baras town faces the Pacific Ocean on the eastern side of the Catanduanes province. The southwest monsoon (habagat) was keeping the waves low, forcing the organizers to postpone the afternoon heats on the third day.

Preparations

On July 31, the Majestic Surfing Cup 2025 opened. Just a week before that, surfers and surfing instructors taught in an International Surfing Association (ISA) certification course, which taught them life-saving techniques using surfboards, surf education theory and practice, and instructional standards.

Jerico Tating, Baras tourism officer, told BicoldotPH that this accreditation training was necessary for the town since it attracts Catanduanes’ highest number of tourists who avail services from surfers.

“One of our worries before were when (surfers and surfing instructors) join organizations, especially retreat groups that offer tours and surfing lessons, but they are not licensed or accredited,” Tating told BicoldotPH.

Because of this concern, Baras’ tourism office and the surfers themselves asked help from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through its Adjustment Measures Program.

On Aug. 3, DOLE Bicol Director Imelda Gatinao led the turnover of a P901,000 grant to the Majestic Baras Surfers and Instructors Association (MBSIA).

Gatinao challenged the surfers and instructors here to adjust to the challenges of the labor market.

The turned over amount will be used for capacity building skills training and the purchase of two laptops for the surfer’s association.

Gatinao also said that she hopes that DOLE’s AMP would help surfers “expand their market.”

“Ang pangangailangan ng Baras ay skillful surfers and licensed trainers para kaya nating tumawid sa napakalakas na alon ng buhay. I-avoid natin ang job losses (What Baras needs are skillful surfers and licensed trainers so that we can ride tide strong waves of life. We must avoid job losses),” Gatinao said during the turnover ceremony.

Gitanao acknowledged that tourism is a key employment generator in the Bicol Region.

“(Bicol) has a wonderful backdrop and that is a huge draw for tourists, therefore giving livelihood to residents throughout the region,” Gatinao told BicoldotPH.

She said that due to underemployment, DOLE is campaigning to help community-based enterprises and to help in skills development.

She said that she was happy that the surfing community in Puraran village in Baras expressed interest in elevating their skills and getting internationally-recognized licenses.

“We have the capacity building support for those kinds of activities because the labor market is shifting. We need to help based on the challenges of the time,” Gatinao told BicoldotPH.

MSIA President Cris Tanael, 33, said that the funding from DOLE will go a long way.

He said that the money will not just go to the training of surfers and instructors, but it will also help them organize a training on how to book tourists interested in surfing.

He said that there are more than 50 MBSIA members, all of whom are surfing instructors.

Tourism Draw

Catanduanes provincial tourism officer Carmel Bonifacio Garcia said that surfing is the pioneer tourism product of Catanduanes and that DOLE’s help to the surfers of Baras will extend to the entire island province.

“We are grateful to the DOLE for helping the tourism sector not only here in Baras, but the entire island of Catanduanes. In terms of livelihood and tourism activities, we really partnered with the DOLE,” Garcia said.

Habagat

Tating said that this year, the waves were not as high as they were expecting due to the habagat season.

“Last year, we conducted the Majestic Surfing Cup in September and the first week of October. That was when we had the biggest waves,” he said. “This time around, it’s the habagat season. But the swell is fine.”

Forty-seven surfers joined this year’s  Majestic Surfing Cup. The Bicol surfers hail from the provinces of Catanduanes, Sorsogon, and Camarines Norte.

Although they are also joined by surfers from other regions, only competing surfers from Bicol will be ranked regionally.

UPSA Project Director Mark Daniel Galzote, 31, explained that for the skilled surfers, the size of the waves do not matter.

“Skillful surfers will stand out, whether it’s a huge wave or a tiny wave,” Galzote told BicoldotPH. He said that not all national-level competitions have towering waves. “Surfers compete on whatever waves are available at the time.”

Galzote said that surfers need to experience different kinds of waves from different locations to hone their skills.

Bicol Surfing Circuit

The Majestic Surfing Cup 2025 marks the beginning of Bicol Region’s goal to position itself as a rising surfing hub.

In a post on social media, the Department of Tourism Bicol recognized Baras for kicking off this new tourism product for the region.

Aside from Baras, the towns of Daet in Camarines Norte and Gubat in Sorsogon are also surfing destinations with thriving communities for the marine sports.

Regional Director Herbie Aguas dubbed the three towns as the “Triple Crown of Surfing Destinations.”

The regional ranking that will emerge from the Majestic Surfing Cup 2025 will be the eventual basis for who to send to national, even international, events.

“We will get the talented athletes from this cup and we will help them get funding from their respective provinces so they can join national tours,” Galzote told BicoldotPH.

For a surfer to be ranked, they have to join a tour officiated by the UPSA, the national sports association (NSA) recognized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). That makes UPSA the only governing body for surfing in the Philippines that sets and ensures the standards in surfing cups like Majestic.

Galzote said that 2025 is the first year that they did regional cups.

“Bagasbas in Daet was the first to try a regional ranking. From there, we were already able to determine who their top ranking surfers are,” Galzote said, referring to the Bantayog Surfing Cup. “We will do the same here in Catanduanes.”

Dom Cui, 47, beach announcer and commentator, told BicoldotPH that the quality of judging is ensured now that the Majestic Surfing Cup is sanctioned by UPSA.

“The quality of judging is really topnotch, preparing all the local surfers here in Catanduanes to be ready for the national event,” Cui said, adding that the delivery of the tournament is also done the same way as in national competitions.

“Having a regional (tour) is very important because, you know, to qualify even for a national competition, you have to be aware of the environment and of the quality of a national tour,” he said.

Galzote also shared his impressions following the visit of UPSA to Catanduanes.

“We were not disappointed when the technical team of UPSA arrived here and we saw the talents here,” Galzote said. “They only need more experience in joining competitions in the national levels. That will help improve their skills.”

Galzote said that aside from the talents of the athletes, the waves in Puraran village in Baras have the potential to gain international-level recognition.

“If the local government will pay attention to the promotion of Majestic Puraran, I think this will be the big break of this place for it to be known worldwide like Siargao,” he said.

On the fifth day of the event, two Bicolano surfers and two non-Bicolano surfers emerged as champions in their respective categories.

Mark Noguerraza of Baler won in the Junior Boys Shortboard competition. Remar Magaluna of Siargao won in the Men’s Open Shortboard competition.

Meanwhile, Gubat surfers Nathalie Espiel and Donna Estrellado won in the Junior Girls Shortboard competition and Women’s Open Shortboard competition, respectively.

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