The Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) headed by Gov. Manuel C. Ortega joins the nation in the celebration of the National Crime Prevention Week with the theme, “Kapit-Bisig Kabataan Tungo sa Kapayapaan, Now Na!”.

To jumpstart the week-long celebration, participating agencies conducted a “Walk for Peace” from the City Plaza of San Fernando to Camp Brigadier General Oscar M. Florendo, home of Police Regional Office I (PRO-I) at 6:30 am on September 1, 2008. After which, a Eucharistic celebration and flag raising ceremony were conducted at the chapel and quadrangle of the PRO-I.

In his opening remarks, Hon. Pablo C. Ortega, City Mayor of San Fernando, La Union, emphasized on the importance of the observance of the event. He said that crime prevention is a task of society, not just of the law enforcers. For his part, Police Chief Superintendent Romeo C. Hilomen, Regional Director of the Philippine National Police, tackled the importance of the theme, P/C Supt. Hilomen stressed on the importance of awareness among the youth. Their consciousness and involvement in crime prevention will prove to be inherent in the realization of this year’s National Crime Prevention Week.

In behalf of Governor Ortega, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee Chair on Peace and Order and Public Safety, Hon. Joaquin C. Ostrea commented on the timeliness of the event’s theme. Board Member Ostrea discussed the importance of the participation of the community in the protection of the youth against the menaces of the society – such as drugs. “It is imperative that they unite themselves against the drug menace through discipline and vigilance.  They are the leaders of tomorrow, the hope of our motherland.  To achieve long-lasting peace, they must be protected from drug addiction”, he urged. SPM Ostrea mentioned the seizing of the clandestine shabu laboratory in Naguilian La Union through the combined efforts of the PGLU, Local Government Unit of Naguilian, La Union Provincial Police Office (LUPPO), Naguilian PNP, the court and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). “This is an assurance that indeed, there is a government working for the betterment of the youth and that they are not alone in the battle against illegal drugs”, he enthused.

After Hon. Ostrea’s speech, the awards to the Best Peace and Order Councils in the Region were presented. SPM Joaquin C. Ostrea received a Plaque in behalf of Gov. Manuel C. Ortega for the Province of La Union for winning the “Best Peace and Order Council for 2007, Provincial Category”. For the component city category, Mayor Michael V. Fariñas of Laoag City received the award. For the 1^st to 3^rd class category, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte Mayor Alfreco P. Valdez, Jr. received the award; and for the 4^th to 6^th class, Pinili, Ilocos Norte snatched the award which was received by Mayor Anunciacion D. Pagdilao.

The Provincial Government of La Union, the Department of Tourism-Region I, the Municipal Government of San Juan and the La Union Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association will have its annual surfing event called the LA UNION SURFING BREAK. The event will be held on October 24 to 26, 2008 at Urbiztondo Beach, San Juan, La Union.

The La Union Surfing Break had a successful reprise last year after its launching in 2006. It is conceptualized to educate and expose surfing to the general public through proper teaching methods. Timed during semestral break, the target market of the event was students from Manila, Baguio and other Northern Luzon cities. Among the three other well-known surf sites in the Philippines --- Siargao in Surigao del Norte, Baler in Aurora and Daet in Camarines Sur --- La Union is the most accessible for those coming from Mega Manila. The event turned the beach cove of Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union into the likes of one hot summer getaway in Boracay.

The LA UNION SURFING BREAK proved very successful in the past 2 years. It has positioned La Union as the Surfing and Active Lifestyle Holiday Destination of the Philippines. With the help of the media, both broadcast and print, the activity has become popular throughout the country.

Now on its third year, not only will there be the usual surfing clinics but also beach activities like Ultimate Frisbee, Wall Rock Climbing, Beach Volleyball Clinics and Tournaments. Added features this year will be the Ultimate Beach Break Party, Search for La Union Surfing Bodies 2008, Oktoberfest, Amazing Race Challenge, Fun Games, among others.

• Surf Clinics

The same surf clinic module implemented in the past 2 years will still be used this year. Each registered participant will be entitled to an hour surf lesson. With 20 surfboards and 10 hours per day, we can accommodate 300 trail surfers for two days. Schedule of surf lessons shall be issued upon registration. While waiting for turns for the surf clinic, frisbee and climbing clinics will be continuously running. Beach volleyball games will also be held round the clock. Local Surfing Competition shall be held on Day 3 of the event.

• Frisbee and Speed Climbing Competitions

The side events that took place in the past two years were huge success in keeping the surfer participants busy while waiting for their turn. So successful were they that ideas to expand these concepts took place. This year, from merely fun activities open to the public, the climbing walls and frisbee fields will be used for very spectator-friendly but serious and high level competitions.

Ultimate Frisbee

Day 1: Whole day clinic with hired instructors, arrival of teams, invitation of locals to form teams or join existing teams.

Day 2: Maximum of 12 teams, mixed, male and female. Whole day competitions. Teams will be seeded upon registration to form 2 groups of 6. Each group will compete to arrive with top 4 teams per group.

Day 3: The top 4 teams per group will enter into a quarterfinal round, semi final and final round to come out with the Champion, 1st Runner Up and 2nd Runner Up.

Team Speed Climbing and Bouldering

Maximizing on the presence of the climbing wall, we can set up a professional Bouldering Competition apart from the team Speed Climbing Competition.

Day 1: Whole day clinic with hired instructors, arrival of competitors, invitation of locals to form teams or join existing teams, practice sessions on the speed climbing wall

Day 2: Whole day Bouldering Competition, approximately 50 participants male and female. Climbers are given 2 rounds of boulders to score. The top 16 male and top 8 female competitors advance into the next day's rounds. Team speed seeding rounds happen at 4pm.

Day 3: Quarter final, Semi final and Final Rounds for Team Speed Climbing and Bouldering Competitions to result in Champion, 1st Runner Up and 2nd Runner Up in Men's Bouldering, Women's Bouldering and Team Speed Climbing.

• Beach Volleyball

This is the classic beach game which cannot go missed. Teams will travel to compete, or can be formed together by interactive game marshals monitoring interested individuals wanting to play. After 3 days, interested teams will get competitive and compete for the LUSB Beach Volley International Trophy.

Day 1: Seeding, free games, forming of teams for those that don't have teams, arrival of teams, registration

Day 2: Registration, maximum of 12 teams of 4, mixed with at least 1 female. Whole day competitions. Teams will be seeded upon registration to form 2 groups of 6. Each group will compete to arrive with top 4 teams per group.

Day 3: The top 4 teams per group will enter into a quarterfinal round, semi final and final round to come out with the Champion, 1st Runner Up and 2nd Runner Up.

• The Ultimate Beach Break Party & Oktoberfest

News of the beach party which took place last year was spread like fire through campuses and schools when the students went back to school. This event definitely made its impact in the students’ social scene. This year aims to have more bands and more people attending the party concert. The party happens on Day 1 and Day2 of the event.

• Search for La Union Surfing Bodies 2008

The La Union Surfing Bodies 2008 is a personality and modelling search for young boys and girls that aims to discover the most beautiful and most refreshing face that has the best potential to penetrate the industry of advertising and fashion and eventually crossover to be the next teen idol.

• La Union Amazing Race Challenge

It is a race against time with a competitive team element. The race consists of a series of clues to get from one checkpoint /pit stop to another. Route Markers which will either contain a Road Block or Detour shall be in place to each checkpoint where the team or one of their members must complete a given task before going on to the next pit stop/checkpoint. Route Markers mark the location of additional route information; Road Blocks on the other hand, shall outline a specific task to one member which one must complete to be able to proceed while detour gives a choice of two tasks the whole team must complete before moving on. The first team to reach the final pit stop/checkpoint shall be the winner of the race.

In the bigger picture, the La Union Surfing Break is a real nudge to La Union’s over-all tourism industry as well as other business ventures. With the expected influx of people coming over, the goal in the end is to ensure the event leaves a trail of small business start ups, idea transfers, and enough momentum to promote La Union as a sports and adventure destination as well as the premier surfing destination in North Luzon, prepared and ready to take on an influx of tourists.