PHI Clinches 7 Medals in SEA Games Surfing in LU
By: Camille R. Bumatay, OPG-MPIU | Photo By: Sonny Buenaventura, OPG-MPIU | Date: December 8, 2019
Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) 2019 Longboard Men Category in Surfing Gold Medalist Roger Casugay of the Philippines receives his medal from Gov. Pacoy during the Awarding Ceremony in San Juan, La Union on December 8, 2019. Casugay was named as the best symbol of SEA Games 2019’s theme, “We Win as One,” after he saved his Indonesian opponent from drowning when the latter’s surfing board leash snapped in the middle of the competition on December 6, 2019.
Photo by: Sonny Buenaventura, OPG-MPIU
The first-ever surfing competition of the Southeast Asian Games held at the surftown of San Juan, La Union concluded with seven medals for Team Philippines on December 8, 2019.
At the end of the week-long surfing competition, Philippines secured two gold, two silver and three bronze medals from the same.
For the Shortboard Men Category, Ony Anwar of Indonesia won gold; Rio Waida of Indonesia won silver; and Marama Tokong of Philippines and Henry Chapman of Thailand won bronze. For the Shortboard Women Catergory, Nilbie Blancada of Philippines won gold; Anni Flynn of Thailand won silver; and Daisy Valdez of Philippines and Taina Izquierdo of Indonesia won bronze.
For the Longboard Men Category, Roger Casogay of the Philippines won the gold; Rogelio Esquievel, Jr. of Philippines won silver; and Dean Permana and Menchos Nurhidayat of Indonesia won bronze. For the Longboard Women Category, Dhea Novitasari of Indonesia won the gold; Ikit Agudo of Philippines won silver; and Daisy Valdez of the Philippines and Ramee Junprasert of Thailand won bronze.
In his message, Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III talked about the stronger bonds built among countries, teams and individuals saying, “The highlight, I think, was the remarkable long board two-men exhibition. To me, that picture best captures the theme, We Win as One.” Gov. Pacoy is referring to the heroic act of Filipino surfer Casogay who saved Indonesian surfer Nurhidayat from drowning when whose surfing board leash snapped in the middle of the competition on December 6, 2019.
Department of Tourism – Regional Office 1 Director Joseph Francisco “Jeff” Ortega said, “we did all the things we need to do to win as one…I would like to remind that this purpose is to work together as Asian community.” He believed that La Union’s hosting of the competition has positioned La Union in the world surfing map.
The end of the competition marked the start of an even wider recognition for La Union as a prime surfing and tourism destination in Southeast Asia and the world.
