Text and photography by Jojie Alcantara

In 2007, 21-year old surfing star Wade Goodall (Caloundra) defeated 48 of the world’s best surfers and earned the championship to the 13th Billabong Cloud Nine Invitational Surfing Competition in Siargao Island, the surfing capital of the Philippines. Goodall won $USD 7,500 just in time for a birthday celebration in the island. Presidential daughter Luli Arroyo graced the final day of the competition. For the Philippine contenders who gave their amazing performances, the highest place local participant was Edito “Peso” Alcala who bowed out on the final day of competition in round four. The Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational ran smoothly from Sept 24-30, boasting of US 20,000 in prize money, and offering world-class surfers a chance to tackle the island's renowned hollow swells rolling in from the Pacific Ocean at 1.5-2m tubing waves.

Siargao Islands 'Cloud 9', a powerful hollow right-hander, has been hailed as one of the ten best waves in the world and has been frequently compared to the renowned surf of Hawaii and Indonesia. The Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational is proudly supported by the Provincial Government of Surigao Del Norte with support from Smart Communications, San Miguel, The Department of Tourism Philippines, Asian Spirit and Coca Cola.

This is my 3rd time in visiting and covering the annual Siargao international surfing competition, back during the time of former Gov. Lyndon Barbers, who is the brother of the present Gov. Ace Barbers.