TANAUAN LEYTE, Skimboarding capital of the Philippines



Skimboarding in Tanauan



Tanauan holds the distinction of being the birthplace of Skimboarding in the country. In 2000, an American tourist from California visited the town and introduced the water sport to several youngsters. He also taught the locals how to make skim boards.

 

Since then, a friendly Skimboarding competition has been held every year.

 

The sport caught the fancy of nearby towns and other parts of the country, bringing an increasing number of participants to the annual competition in Tanauan.  Year after year, the sport is slowly being recognized attracting not only local water-sport enthusiasts but foreigners as well. 

 

Skimboarding is a popular recreation sport in the United States, Canada, Australia, Spain and many other places, albeit not as popular here as surfing.

 

A discipline of surfing, Skimboarding involves riding a board on wet sand or shallow water. But unlike surfing where one has to look for big waves breaking far from shore, Skimboarding starts at the beach where short-break waves could be found.

 

The skimboarder would run fast, drop and mount his board before reaching the break point of the wave.

 

The skim boards are smaller than surf boards because they do not require as much buoyancy. Skim boards are usually oval or teardrop-shaped, although some are circular.

 

The National government in tandem with DPWH is said to be eager in helping Tanauan develop the Skimboarding site to promote tourism in the area.  

 

Today, Tanauan is highly regarded as the skimboarding capital of the country.  And why not, since 2005 it has already hosted 4 National Skimboarding competitions and has also produced International Skimboarding champions.

 

Reference :

http://www.worldclassfilipino.com/sections/wc-phils/content/6/tanauan-leyte-skimboarding-capital-of-the-philippines

 

Tanauan, Leyte is one of the most visited place in the Philippines. It is the second class municipality in the the province of Leyte,Philippines

 

 

 

                                          History

 

The festival is popular and encourages expatriates to visit during this time of year. The festival also invites people from elsewhere who wish to join and enjoy the festivity and are all welcomed by the locals in their own homes regardless of whether they know them or not.

Balikbayans, a colloquial word that describes former residents who migrated overseas, also finds it interesting and exciting to visit or spend their holiday in the town during this time of the year. Tanauan has a great diversity of "balikbayans" coming from all around the world. Regular balikbayans to the town during the festival come from all over the world, such as USA, Germany, Canada, England, and most are from Australia. There is a "Balikbayan group" that is always in the process of organising cultural and social events.

 

The town got its name from a towering Molave tree which served as a look-out tower, “tan-awan” in the dialect. A look-out would watch for the feared Moro Pirates who would every now and then plunder and loot the settlements along the coast.

The first known settlers were the family of Calanao, his wife and daughter. In 1661, Juanillo Siengco’s family joined the Calanao family in the settlement along the bank of Bukid River at the foot of Adil Hill. By the time their settlements were more developed, the plundering of the Moro’s along the cost became intensified and for their refuge, they built a stone-walled enclosure “cuta” in the area of Buaya. In the course of time, Juanillo’s son Josef, married Calanao’s daughter, Sangod, and from the families of Juanillo Siengco and Calanao a tribe was formed which gave Tanauan its first officials.

In 1710, the first town officials were appointed by the Spanish authorities. From 1710 to the first American occupation in 1900, 47 persons became chief executives of the Municipality. During the American Regime from 1901-1943, another set of municipal executives followed. When the World War II broke out, Pedro A. Villegas was the incumbent Mayor.

When the Japanese occupied Tanauan, Leyte the incumbent Mayor Pedro Villegas and his secretary Janario Perez refused to serve the Japanese forces. Thus, Rufo Cobacha was appointed Mayor followed by Pedro Bulik who was killed by the guerillas. Finally, Eugenio Avila, Sr. was appointed and was incumbent Mayor when the combined Filipino and American Liberation forces occupied the town.

During the Japanese occupation, the town was burned by the guerillas in 1943. This event destroyed the Municipal Building including its records, and all the big houses of Spanish Architecture along Calle Real. The liberation came resulting in further destruction of the Municipal Hall( Lian Chong Building) and the few remaining houses along Calle real. However few lives were lost as the town’s people were warned and took refuge at the Parish Church. During this time, Benito Saavedra was appointed Mayor then succeeded by the following in the order of incumbencies: Rufo Cumpio -1945; Dioniso Boco - 1946 and Pelagio O. Tecson – 1946-1947.