Surfing the Waves in La Union

I couldn't quite remember the year when I had an awesome solo surfing escapade in La Union. But I guess Facebook has a way to remind me that I used to trot from one place to the next during my younger years. 

Plans and Segues

Supposedly, my contract would have ended last August but I received an extension from the organization I am currently in. In other words, it meant that my plans to travel and live in the surfing capital of the Philippines would have to wait a bit longer. 

"Ma, after sa akong contract moadto ko sa Siargao," that was my conviction when my mom and I had a conversation last August. 

"Magkita mo nilang Andy didto," she jokingly replied. 

"I would live there in a while and would further my skills in surfing," confidently continuing our convo. 

Anyway, one of the things I love about my mom is that she doesn't stop me from doing what I want especially about me traveling and living in  different places. In fact, she supported me all the way (sometimes she handed me some travel allowance). 

For now, I would have to settle looking back at my photos when I had another adventure ticked in my bucketlist - surfing. 

"Stayed quite long in this part since I was having second thoughts whether to surf or not"

From Ilocos to La Union

I began imagining myself to have a different kind of adventure and travel experience when I booked a flight for a long holiday in Manila last 2013. I wasn't very specific when it comes to traveling. Honestly, I don't want specific plans when I visit a place. Maybe the best keyword that people would think about my travel style is "spontaneous". 

"I stayed in San Fernando, La Union and headed in San Juan to learn surfing."

"This is just an ordinary scene for locals."

I love being spontaneous because it opens more experience and more acquaintances that could potentially become lessons and friends. It also makes me feel independent and unafraid of unexpected circumstances. True enough, after spending three days in Ilocos Norte and del Sur, I headed to La Union. At first, I wouldn't know anything about La Union not until my Vigan trip. The trike driver who toured me around Vigan triggered my curiosity when he mentioned that La Union is the Surfing Capital of the North. Guess what, I immediately searched for it and spent a day in La Union. 

Riding the Waves

I never surfing in my life. The first watersports that I had an encounter with was skim boarding way back in Bantayan Island when I was assigned there as a nurse way back my younger years. I had a few lessons of skim boarding when I had lived in Labuan Island because of the young Chinese-Malaysian guy who taught me for free. So, I thought of myself to have a try in surfing with all the principles I learned from skim boarding. 

"Minutes before my first surf"

Anyway, it took me more courage to finally try surfing. I was already in San Juan beach but I opted to wander first and had a longer glance and observation of surfers. Maybe one advantage that I have is that I know how to swim so getting into the long surfing boards wouldn't be such a big deal for me. 

"Feeling like a pro"

Besides, surfing instructors are everywhere in the beach waiting for newcomers like me to take a short lesson in surfing before riding the real waves. Indeed, a kind surfing instructor gave me the basics of surfing and before I knew it, I was already enjoying long rides. In fact, I didn't know that some surfers were observing me riding the waves and how I had uninterrupted finish to the shore.

"Ang galing mo magsurf ha," I heard such compliment when I gave back my surf board. 

"Bakit ho?" was my startled reply.

"Nakita kitang umilag kanina sa other surfer. Muntik na yon. Tapos, hindi ka na-wipe-out even once," I continued to listen to him.

Our conversation went on that I finally decided to have some more time surfing until mid-afternoon. It was exhausting but surfing was something that came natural in me

Plans Ahead

For now, I could only think of surfing in my dreams. It is one coveted watersports that I would really love to master. Riding the waves could be delicate and challenging but those are things that I am made of. 

"Surfing with this longboard twice my height"

I might not be able to wander and surf soon in this pandemic but I know when given the right time and opportunity, I would be ready with my surfing stance and basically, train my self to become a better surfer.

Share on Google Plus

About anjville

This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel.