A hero's welcome awaits the young international skimboarding champs when they come home on Monday, July 23. This was revealed by Tanauan Mayor Roque Tiu who said that First Malaysian International Skimboarding Competition Champion Leo Espada and third runner up Darrel Espada deserve a warm welcome because they have put the Philippines in the skimboarding watersports map.

It is not everyday that the municipality of Tanauan or the Philippines for that matter, produces champions, Mayor Roque Tiu said.

The champions will be welcomed by the Tanauan Municipal officials, their relatives and classmates at the Tacloban Airport early morning of Monday. From the airport, a motorcade will be conducted going to the Leyte Park Hotel where a press conference will be conducted.

The motorcade will then proceed to the Tanauan Ampitheater where the Champions will be given a Tribute by the best talents of Tanauan. Mayor Tiu said that in the evening, a Seaside Party will be held at the Bantay Dagat Skimboarding Site with the local skimboarders and the relatives of the Champions in attendance.

Mayor Tiu added that the major sponsor of the Champions, the Victoria Skimboards manager and staff have also been invited to attend the welcome party. Without the sponsor's trust on the capability of the Tanauan riders, they would not have become Champions, Mayor Tiu added.

Mayor Tiu expressed hope that the winning of Leo Espada at the international skimboarding competition, will not only encourage other young people of Tanauan to aspire for the best.

He said that Leo is an orphan as his father died several years ago. This did not however, deter Leo from pursuing his love for the watersports. Leo and Darrel are cousins and both live in the coastal barangay of San Roque which is also the biggest and most populated village of Tanauan, Leyte.

Mayor Tiu calls on the people of Tanauan to warmly welcome the international skimboarding champions.

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