Tanauan, Leyte --
In support of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's
thrust of promoting Central Philippines as the
Tourism Capital of the country, the municipality
of Tanauan, Leyte in Eastern Visayas, which
is known as the Skimboarding Capital of the
Philippines, will hold a three-day Skimboarding
Competition on December 28-31.
This was revealed by Tanauan Mayor Roque Tiu
who said that the Skimfest will once again be
held at the Bantay Dagat area, the place where
the successful National and International Skimboarding
Competition was held in April of this year.
Already, participants from other countries have
signified their intention to join the contest,
Mayor Tiu intimated. The riders from Hongkong,
for example, have already confirmed their attendance.
Also expected to participate are the riders
from Malaysia, Singapore and Australia, Mayor
Tiu added. Of course the riders from the different
places of the country have been invited and
are expected to once again participate in the
forthcoming Skimfest, Mayor Tiu said.
Just like in April, there will be three divisions
in the competition, Mayor Tiu informed, the
Open category, the Wahini category for the women
competitors and the Groumet category for the
young competitors.
Mayor Tiu said that among the competitors in
the Open Category is no less than International
Champion Leo "Longkoy" Espada who
won in Malaysia.
Aside from skimboarding, there will also be
various beach sports and nightly activities
which will be conducted at the Bantay Dagat
area, as part of the town's Christmas activities
this year, Mayor Tiu revealed.
The judges will be coming from the Philippine
Skimboarding Association. Todate, Victoria Skimboard
and the Provincial Government of Leyte have
already confirmed their sponsorship of the said
Skimfest.
Mayor Tiu said that the municipality is still
awaiting for the confirmation of the other would-be
sponsors.
Skimboarding in Tanauan has a romantic history.
An American by the name of Tim Garret happened
to be in Tanauan in pursuit of one of the town's
beautiful lasses.
While courting the lady, Tim Garret spent his
free time making a skimboard. Tim did not win
the heart of the local lass but he left a legacy,
his skimboard which caught the interest of the
local beach afficionados who decided to use
the unique water sports.
In no time at all, almost every beach tramp
in Tanauan wanted to try the new watersports.
The rest is history. Mayor Tiu got interested
in Skimboarding as he finds it more safe than
surfing and because the waves in Tanauan are
more conducive to the sports.
Then Governor Remedios Petilla supported the
municipality in its endeavor of hosting skimboarding.
When she became the congressman of the first
district of Leyte, she sponsored a skimboarding
clinic in Tanauan for all the enthusiasts from
the municipalities in the district.
Mayor Tiu found another supporter of the sports
in now Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, who
himself, is a watersports enthusiast. (PIA 8)
