Sylvester Bactad Wins the Shortboard Open of the Karayan: The First Tagadagat Local Competition

29-30 September 2012, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales: Karayan: The First Tagadagat Local Competition presented by Quiksilver was held even under heavy intermittent downpour. A group of Pundaquit local surfers, Tagadagat, inititated the event with the primary purpose of raising funds to send their town’s representatives onto bigger surfing competitions, in and out of the country. Sylvester Bactad, one of the younger surfers (if not the youngest) to join the Men’s Shortboard Locals category came out as champion, beating all the older and veteran surfers of their locality. Together with first placer, John Louie Farinas, Bactad will be sent to the next big surfing competition to represent their town using the funds raised in this event.

Sylvester Bactad (Blue) together with other shorboard competitors. Photo courtesy of Ana Marie Depositario Castro

Farinas, who also joined the Men’s Longboard Open, finished as champion in the said category. Immediately after the shortboard finals, he switched to a longboard and went back to catch the waves for the longboard championships. This category, as well as the others, was opened to non-Pundaquit surfers, unlike the shortboard division. Farinas showed talent and good endurance as he finished both divisions with flying colors.

Photo courtesy of Ana Marie Depositario Castro

Farinas’ younger brother, Ronnel, proved everyone that they are a family of champions as he topped the Grommet Division. Everyone was stoked to see the younger locals of Zambales rip even under unpleasant weather condition. This only shows their passion for the sport at this early age and how Zambales surfers can give a good competition given any situation.

Photo courtesy of Ana Marie Depositario Castro

This competition also hosted a Longboard Begginers Mixed Division where newer surfers were given the opportunity to show and test their surfing skills. Men and women, locals and non-locals, were invited to participate in this division. Two males and two females competed at the finals but Vincent David Perges, a young local boy, devoured the three much older participants as he snatched the championship title.

The ladies had their own limelight at the Wahine Open where only three female surfers fought for the Wahine Champion title. Unfortunately, the heaviest downpour of the entire event came during their heat but none of the three gave up. They paddled with courage and showed all the men that they cannot be easily struck down. However, only one can come out as strongest, and in this case, it was Mariel Perges.

Here is the complete list of winner of the Karayan: First Tagadagat Local Competition:

Shortboard Locals

Champion – Sylvester Bactad

First place – John Louie Farunas

Second place – Steve Monares

Third place – Reyan Agasa

Longboard Men’s Open

Champion – John Louie Farinas

First place – Juvecris Lavesoria

Second place – Wilson Fagar

Third place – Jessie “Ewoks Sr.” Lavesoria

Longboard Beginners (mix)

Champion – Vincent David Perges

First place – Roxanne Perges

Second place – Francis Lacuesta

Third place – Thea Melocotom

Grommets

Champion – Ronnel Farinas

First place – Robinson Canillas

Second place – Johnjo Agasa

Third place – Christian Tarong

Wahine Open

Champion -Mariel Perges

First place – Christy Lynn Jereza

Second place – Ana Marie Castro

This event was made possible by Quicksilver, Roxy, DC, Fluidsurf, The Lighthouse Marina Resort Subic, Ting Pating, Dogcat Clothing, Megan’s Resort, I Love Stanley, Stoked Inc., Vitor, Crystal Beach Resort, Mad Kahuna, Mojo, Tin Mags, Blunt, Lokal Soul, My Life on Board, Kreativ Dev Group, Jagnusten, KG Stoked Clothing, Coast Thru Life, Driftwood Local Ent., The United Skate Shop, Sunshine Road, Pedro Santi Prod, Freedom Doll, and Jaromanoy. The organizers would also like to thanks the donors- Office of the Governor, Ryan de la Cruz, Joko Magalong, Jayson Castillo, and Ricky Santillan.

More photos to follow. Stay tuned!