TACLOBAN CITY – The city of Borongan successfully hosted the opening leg of the 10th Philippine kiteboarding tour at Baybay Beach from November 29 to December 1, 2024.
The event, organized by the Philippine Kiteboarding Association (PKA) with support from International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), attracted around 50 participants from Ireland, Estonia, Spain, Germany, Lithuania, China, Thailand, and the Philippines, including local favorites from Boracay, Palawan, Puerto Galera, and Manila.
City Mayor Jose Ivan Agda celebrated the event as a milestone for the city’s sports tourism efforts. “This proves Borongan’s potential as a premier destination for sports and adventure tourism while showcasing our natural beauty,” he said. Agda also highlighted the city’s commitment to environmental protection, noting that 60% of its land area is rainforest.
The winners of the twin-tip racing categories included:
Novice Men: Victor Llanes (1st), Alex Lee (2nd), and a tie for 3rd among multiple competitors, including Toomas Krivonogov and Joe Tindog.
Grand Masters: Eddie Garcia (1st), Carlo Leongson (2nd), and Mariel Candava (3rd).
Masters: Doque delos Santos (1st), Louie Fernando (2nd), and Joseph Consul (3rd).
Women: Cyril Dacudao (1st), Triina Trei (2nd), and Iris de Silva (3rd).
In foil racing:
Men: Stefan Vance (1st), Ben Filed (2nd), and John Louie Non (3rd).
Women: Cyril Dacudao, Trine Trei, Irish de Silva, and Anika Shane Diaz.
Tourism officer-in-charge Rupert Ambil praised the PKA partnership, stating the event solidifies Borongan’s reputation as a hub for sports and tourism. “With this and our national surfing events, Borongan is becoming a premier destination for adventure seekers,” he said.
The city’s hosting of the PKA Tour underscores its growing prominence in sports tourism, further putting Eastern Samar on the map as a key player in the adventure tourism scene. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
