Created by Envirosurfer: Eco-friendly Wetsuits & Surf Clothing. We won’t pretend to be champions of the environment but we find the information above surprising and important that’s why we are sharing it. Who would know sunscreen threatens coral reefs below? Yeah. Hope you guys share it too. Infographic by EnviroSurfer –  an eco friendly online [...]

With the stoked American accent I say, “DuDe wAnnA SURF?!” A friend said it sounds stupid (thanks to the movie Dumb and Dumber) but then, to appreciate something, you have to look into it deeper. As early as six in the morning my alarm goes off and the routine starts, work-gym-work-work and more work. I [...]

Our friend surfer/skater Peter James Villarta has always been the artistic one in the group. One of his creative pastimes is painting art on surfboards using Posca markers. He’s been doing it for a while as a hobby – turning dull surfboards into cool vibrant wave sticks. But as of late, he’s been getting paying [...]

Never too early to start planning your weekends for surf trips. Also, this list will come in handy to prepare for those “sunod-sunod” na Surf Competitions and Festivals. There’s about 18 holidays and 9 long weekends this 2012 (I think). But you know us here at LokalSoul, everyday is a holiday! (we wish). Happy New [...]

a good 3 to 6 feet reading on Wetsand.com Thursday, Dec 15: With two days to go before the surf competition at One Love: Zambapalooza in Crystal Beach starts, the North swell continues to fire up the Zambales coastline. Reported just Tuesday this week were shoulder to head high glassy left and right handers at Liw-Liwa, [...]

GMA 7′s Survivor Philippines will feature Mara Isabella Lopez Yokohama – a Filipina surfer who’s been making waves since childhood and is currently a hard charging wahine frequently surfing in Baler, Zambales and La Union among others. Mara is teamed up with her famous Mom in a Celebrity Doubles Showdown edition of Survivor Philippines where ten [...]

HISTORY I don’t know for how long Filipino watersport enthusiasts living in Japan have ventured into Japanese waters knowing the threat of massive earthquakes and tsunamis that regularly hit this beautiful Land of the Rising Sun which sits on the rim of the Pacific plate.  Despite that, some “brave” souls still engage into their loved [...]

Frequent surfing in La Union would definitely get an eager surfer immersed in the laid back lifestyle of the Urbiztondo surfing community. There are so many kinds of interesting people you’ll meet here. The friendly locals, beach bums, vacationists – all of them regular fixtures in the melting pot of good vibes known as L.U. [...]

Samar is already known as a prime surf destination in the Philippines. It’s beauty has been featured a lot – from the videos of pristine Calicoan Island in Guiuan to the remote areas where John Callahan loves taking photos. From what our surf friends have been telling us, Samar is simply paradise and it is [...]

The Big Z surf event, with preparations and arrangements set, had to push thru even though there were no hopes of waves coming. But the event is not yet over. As soon as the swell hits south side the organizers at the Zambales Boardriding Association will make the call for the competition to resume. It’s [...]

Next time you pick up a surf magazine, keep your eyes open for Filipino surfers. You’ll never know. You might be looking at two page spreads of world class Filipino surfers riding the tube. and in this case it’s Rodolfo “Osot” Alcala of Siargao featured on Surfling Life magazine Feb 2011 issue that’s Osot along [...]

Corey and Lui Startling news came and spread around the surfing community early this week. Seasoned Filipino wave chargers Corey Wills and Lui Tortuya were having a surf session in Bataan when a drowning incident happened. The situation involved not surfers, but vacationeers who waded in current heavy waters and found themselves in the mercy [...]

Growing up in a family with great passion for surfing, and having the San Juan Surf Resort in La Union as his childhood playground, Luke Landrigan’s love for the sport is a natural by-product of nurture perfectly melding with nature. Now a world-class Filipino surfing champ, he travels around the country to encourage more Pinoys [...]

California, Hawaii, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico. These are places that 14 year old Tia Blanco, a current resident of San Clemente, California, has already surfed. Quite also a feat for this lively ocean child is that she won 1st place at the 2011 NSSA Championships for Middle School girls while getting a 4.0 [...]

(walang Jerry samin kinuha ko lang sa Google yan. astig no?) Happy Birthday to us! Maraming salamat una sa lahat sa mga nag contribute sa LokalSoul. Hindi na po namin kayang isa-isahin pero kilala nyo kung sino kayo. Malaking malaki ang utang namin sayo dahil kung wala kayo, wala kaming malalagay sa blog. Pangalawa, maraming [...]

Dubai the ultra-modern. This land in the Emirates south of the Persian Gulf is a living oasis and a visionary accomplishment for urban architecture and progressive city living. The future has been made here. But amidst the towering skyscrapers and astonishing man-made islands, Dubai also has something special that’s slightly different from all the modernization. [...]

In our first surfer feature ever, we sat down with Jean Pierre Sarmiento who recently bagged the Men’s Shortboard division at the 6th MSA Manila Surfers Cup in La Union. He’s been racking up his game by battling it out in competitions and still continually improves by constant practice. At a distance you would think [...]

The best thing about skimboarding as we see it, you can get stoked everyday. short video presented by YouTube user mjefferson06 who has a lot of cool Cavite skimboarding uploaded on his account. From our friends at Mad Kahuna surf shop: On May 17, 2011 2pm there will be a flatland skimboarding competition in Cavite. [...]

Tralala-lala. Oh how crazy-tropical the Philippines is. Just when summer is at its peak a storm came out of nowhere and decided to rain on the party. Again thank you PAGASA for the accurate weather forecasting. And after the Bicol Region was battered by Typhoon Bebeng, the furious storm went up the map and made [...]

Dahican beach in Mati, Davao Oriental is an amazing stretch of pure and fine white sand shore with blue green crystal waters that opens out to the Pacific Ocean. Popular with its breathtaking scenery, Dahican is also home to a sea turtle sanctuary wherein snorkeling in its pristine waters might give a glimpse of the [...]

At first glance Tereze looks just like your average 6 year old. You know. Kids who live for cartoons and loves to their Disney princesses, midgets who never stop running around, little people who won’t eat anything else besides hotdog and spaghetti. Also one thing for sure, 6 year olds love nothing else but to [...]

Lokalsoul is really happy and thankful to be part of the 6th MSA Cup held in La Union. It was two days of surfing, meeting fellow Manila surfers and watching city-based surfers compete and bring out the best of each other. Also, ice cream and costume surf competition! The mood was relaxed and the stoke [...]

When a handful of Siargao surfers went all the way to Baler for the 5th Aurora Surfing Challenge, they met tough challenges. A very long distance trip, cold Baler winds and tough competition from all over. But as the event came to a close there were lots of reasons to celebrate. Siargao rallied in the [...]

As of today most surfers are already familiar with the undying legacy of the film Apocalypse Now to Baler, Aurora. The famous “napalm” and “surfing” scene was shot at what would be known since then as “Charlie’s Point” and the crew left behind surfboards as the filming ended. After that everything else as they say, [...]

Typhoon Juan was a bastard as he came and brought with him tons of destruction. But during his stay at the coasts of Zambales, a few brave souls defied the storm in its face. The tempest was ashore and Pundakit locals paddled straight right into it even though the current is fatal. And the aftermath? [...]

Lo and behold, here are the winners of the 16th Siargao International Surfing Cup: CHAMPION Rodolfo “Osot” Alcala (php130K) List of Winners It was a fantastic event at Cloud 9. The monstrous barrels and all the surfers wowed the big audience all cheering at every ride. Congrats again to Osot and Instik. And look at [...]

continued from part 2 THE SIARGAO SURFERS Name: Carlito “Intsik” Nogalo Born: July 10, 1984 Hometown: Siargao Island Favorite Spot: Cloud 9 Weapon of choice: 5’10” round tail Stance: Goofy or Right : Right Favorite Move/Trick: Re-entry Favorite Movie: Cartoons Favorite Actor/Actress: Angelina Jolie, Arnold Schwarzenegger Favorite Music: Andrew E. Favorite Videoke Song: Open Arms [...]

Congratulations to the all winners and participants. It was great and colorful competition. Thanks to Charmaine and all the staff of the Philippine Surfing Federation for all the updates. Great event guys. Till next year!

Balikbayod saw that there is a lack of surfboards in Siargao for the youth to use. However, they also saw the pressing occurrence of children dropping out of school whenever they have something to play with.

continued from part 1 THE SIARGAO SURFERS Name: Manuel “Wilmar” Melindo Born: October 26, 1976 Hometown: General Luna, Siargao Island Favorite Spot: Cloud 9 Weapon of Choice: 5’4 fish tail Stance: Goofy Favorite Move/Trick: round house, re-entry Favorite Movie: surfing movies Favorite Actor/Actress: Johnny Depp Favorite Music: Kamaggong Wadub Favorite Videoke Song: Kanlungan Favorite Food: [...]