CEBU CITY – For the people of Siargao Island, the 13th Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament held in the municipality of Pilar recently was more than just a competition.
IVONNIE Beltran-Dumadag, Department of Tourism-Caraga chief, speaks during the closing and awarding ceremony of the 13th Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament. In the background are the fish caught by participating anglers. (Calvin D. Cordova)
Held from April 21 to 24, the 13th edition of the competition was touted as the “most meaningful” in the history of the tournament as it showed that the island has recovered from the ill-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and devastation of typhoon “Odette.” “This tournament is the most meaningful for me. We have not fully recovered but it shows that we are already at 85 to 90 percent in our rehabilitation recovery,” said Pilar Mayor Mari Liza Resurreccion. The tournament, a brainchild of former Surigao del Norte Gov. Lalo Matugas, was halted for three years because of the pandemic, and its return was considered historic as all the municipalities in Siargao were involved in the staging of the competition. “This is the first time in the history of game fishing that the entire nine municipalities of Siargao pooled their resources together just to be able to see this tournament through. I paid tribute to the eight mayors who unselfishly shared their resources just so we would be able to proceed with the tournament,” Resurreccion said. Ivonnie Beltran-Dumadag, Department of Tourism-Caraga chief, said the successful holding of the tournament showed how the people of Siargao bounced back from the pandemic and the typhoon. “The tournament is a symbol of strength, a symbol of resilience because after a very bad fall from the pandemic, from the typhoon, we are back,” said Dumadag. At least 31 anglers from the Philippines, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, and Canada joined the competition. With the participation of foreign anglers, the tournament showed that Siargao is ready to welcome visitors from all over the world once again. “I saw the early beginnings of the Siargao game fishing, this may not be the grandest but this is definitely the most memorable,” Dumadag said. Dumadag thanked the foreign anglers for joining the competition. She said having the foreign anglers in the competition gave the island a big boost. “I would like to thank again and again, the anglers who joined us in the competition. For every travel you take here in Siargao, for every trip, for every night you stay, that is equivalent to a job, additional livelihood, and increased economic activity in Pilar and the entire Siargao. We hope that you will be coming back again and again. And for the people of Pilar, let us show our strong hospitality to our visitors because we cannot claim our position as the game fishing mecca of Asia without our beloved anglers,” said Dumadag. Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Jose “Bingo” Matugas said holding the tournament will not just help boost the island’s tourism but also its vast marine resources. “The number one effect is it will promote to our locals responsible fishing,” said Matugas. Tourism-wise, the competition will have a big impact on the island, he added. “Tourism is an economic driver. It generates income,” said Matugas. Matugas shared that the island was badly affected by the pandemic. Before the pandemic struck, the island had 15 flights a day but it went to zero at the height of the health crisis. “From zero, we started having one, two, four flights a day. Now it’s back to 14 flights a day,” said Matugas. Matugas said foreign tourists, most Europeans, have also started returning to the island. These foreign tourists, especially those who joined the competition, have helped the people of Siargao get back on their feet, Matugas said. “We’re known for home stay and since most of the participants are rich, they are the ones who shouldered the expenses for the repair of the houses where they stayed. They also gave capital to the boatmen to help improve their lives,” said Matugas.