Siargao Islands

The huge waves look ominous the first time you see it. I asked my boatman, Jojo, what I’m seeing. Is that turbulent area dangerous? Is it inaccessible to fishers and swimmers? Should I, um, tighten my life jacket? He chuckled. “Oh, that,” he said in a voice that suggested he’s had this conversation many times before. “Those are the Cloud 9 waves. Surfers love those.” And then it hit me like ’em big kahunas: this is Siargao, Glenn. There are supposed to be waves. While the uninitiated like me may feel uneasy, for the people of who call Siargao home, these waves are the most familiar thing. As the name implies, it’s their piece of heaven. Siargao is an island located off the northeastern coast of Mindanao. It is within the jurisdiction of Surigao Del Norte province, and composed of nine municipalities: Burgos, Dapa, Del Carmen, General Luna, Pilar, San Benito, San Isidro, Santa Monica and Socorro. Around the main island are smaller islands, included as part of the Siargao Group. Siargao is known today as a surfing mecca, a place where thrill-seekers the world over gather to ride the waves. For the local population, however, Siargao is their simple, non-assuming hometown, with vast swaths of coconut farms, thick mangroves, and secluded coves. If it’s your first time here, it’s hard to ignore the contrast between the adventuring, wide-eyed tourists and the simple, stoic ways of the locals. Case in point: me and Jojo. The island is a relatively sheltered surfing destination until around the early 2010s, when word of the island’s majestic waves exploded in the surfing world. Today, surfing culture is pretty much a staple in the island. This is particularly true in General Luna, where the island’s best waves can be found. #maydaytrip #urbanexplorer