Siargao to host 25th International Surfing Cup on Friday, Oct. 4

The island of Siargao will be hosting the 25th Siargao International Surfing Cup starting on Friday, the management of the surfing tournament announced in a statement on Thursday evening.

"This will be the Philippines biggest international annual sports tournament and an iconic event that will draw the best surfers in one of the last QS1,500 events in the Asia region," World Surf League (WSL) Asia general manager Steve Robertson said.

"We are happy that this event has continued right here where the most perfect waves in the planet are and the WSL is honored to be part of it," Robertson added.

According to Siargao Representative Bingo Matugas, the 25th edition of the tournament will be held to pay tribute to former General Luna mayor Jaime Rusillon.

"This is a milestone for Siargao and the entire surfing industry since we are commemorating our 25th year. But most importantly, we are staging this event to honor the father of surfing in Siargao, mayor Jaime Rusillon," Matugas said.

Rusillon started the series of surfing tournaments in 1998 with the Siargao Surfing Classics. He passed away earlier this year.

"He had the vision of putting Cloud 9 in the global tourism map and, with the support of his good friend, Gov. Francisco 'Lalo' Matugas, made possible the staging of the event year after year, without let-up, despite the challenges they faced," Matugas said.

The Siargao surfing competition is the first and longest running international tournament in the Philippines, the statement read.

Siargao was one of Conde Nast Traveler's world's best islands with Boracay and Palawan. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News