Confessions of a Surf Lady | The First Women's Surfing Podcast™

72. Surfing Siargao with Respect: Filipino Culture, Community, & the Local Lineup

• Laura Day at The Surf Société • Season 6 • Episode 72

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What if the thing you were seeking all along was right in your own backyard?

Elaine Abonal was an exchange student in Florida when she first saw surfing—and something inside her lit up. But it wasn’t until she returned to the Philippines and realized there were waves in her own country that everything changed.

In this episode of Confessions of a Surf Lady: The First Women’s Surfing Podcast™, Elaine shares how her surf journey started by breaking cultural expectations and carving out a new path in the Philippine surf scene. As a Filipina surfer, community builder, and entrepreneur, she’s created something truly powerful: a space where people feel welcome, safe, and inspired to surf.

We talk about her experience originally being one of the few women in the water in Siargao, what it's like to build surf culture from the ground up, and why inclusion—especially in the global surf conversation—has to come from people who live and breathe the culture every day.

Main Themes:

🌍 Surfing as a Cultural Awakening

“I thought I had to go far away to learn to surf. I didn’t realize the waves were in my own country.” – Elaine Abonal

💪 Creating Safe Spaces in the Lineup

From guiding tourists to teaching locals, Elaine opens up about her mission to make surfing feel welcoming—especially for women in the Philippines.

🏄🏽 Representation in Surf Culture

Why it matters that the face of surfing includes Filipina surfers, and how surf media often misses the real stories from local communities.

🌀 Surfing as a Mirror for Growth

We explore how surfing helped Elaine confront fear, trust herself, and return to joy—even through life’s personal and professional challenges.


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Elaine Abonal:

I've always been tan, and I don't think I really appreciated being tan or more, until I went to the US to study, where everybody loved my tan, and everybody asked if I was tan all year round. And then when I got back and started surfing where you have to be tan, because it means that you're surfing a lot, I really appreciated it, and then, like, you know, you feel more like a surfer here in the Philippines if you're tan. And I just found a self confidence that not just being Filipino gave me, but also surfing. And then, yeah, I saw that. The more I talked about it, the more I shared about it. There's more Filipinas who are surfing. And I think somehow the media just started putting more Morena, like dark skinned girls. You know, just in media, it's still there, the papaya, so whitening soaps are still there. But there really is a rise in consciousness about, okay, we're Filipino. We are born Brown. Many of us are born Brown, and it's beautiful and that we should be proud of it, just besides the fact that in surfing, there's also a rise and, you know, just pride of being yourself and being out there for the Filipinas.

Laura Day:

Hey lady, welcome to Confessions of a surf lady, a podcast by the surf society. For so long, women have been misrepresented by the surf industry, only highlighting a narrow and exclusive version of a who a surf lady can be. But you and I both know that there is so much more to women surfing than that. This, this podcast right here, is a place to tell our story how we want to tell it, at Confessions of a surf lady. You'll meet everyday surf ladies doing amazing things in their local communities, as well as pros, World Champs, big wave riders and badass living legends from women's surf history, all sharing their stoke on this blossoming Global Women's surf culture. What's even more special, though, is that you, yes, you will get a chance to participate in the conversation by leaving me your confessions. I'm your host, Laura Day. Think of me as your new favorite surf sister, connecting you to your beautiful Global Women's surf community, helping you boost your confidence before you head out for your next surf, and even dropping a few surf tips from the surf society along the way. If you want to stay connected with me, find me on Instagram that's at Confessions of a surf lady. Kind of use that like my personal account, and then go ahead and follow at surf society that's s, u r, F, S O, C, i, e, t e, there you'll find a handful of free resources to help you through your surfing journey. All right, lady, thanks again for joining me here at Confessions of a surf lady, where we're cultivating a global women's surf culture through thoughtful conversation. Let's get to our episode. Yeah, welcome Elaine. Oh my gosh, it's been a long time coming that we've wanted to have you on the podcast, and I'm really excited. Yeah, thank you. I'm so sorry. It took, like, a year or something forever to get this scheduled down. I feel like there's always something happening, like somebody's sick or, you know, a two week blackout on the island, but here we are. So thank you so much for your patience. Oh no, absolutely it's been great. Connecting with you on Instagram actually followed you, like, a long, long time ago, maybe when you still had like, five or 6000 followers, or even, maybe even less than that. And I was like, Oh, this is so cool, a woman in the Philippines who surfs and she's on this island. And so you actually inspired me to go visit Shar gal when I was there in 2016 Yeah, I was also there when I met you, 2022 end of 22 Yeah.

Elaine Abonal:

You met So briefly, yeah, yeah. It's changed

Laura Day:

so much, even from that small time frame, yeah,

Elaine Abonal:

I remember, like you reached out to me and you were making rash guards. Remember? Yeah, yeah. I super love that, like a Filipina also making surf and swimwear in California, and then it was so cool to wear it. I lost it during the storm. There was a big storm, so, like a lot of our things got lost. So I was so bummed about that. Are you still making that?

Laura Day:

I still have products? Yeah. Okay, cool. I can send you

Unknown:

something. Oh, okay.

Laura Day:

No pressure. Whenever you know someone's going to be going to you that's going to be from over here, let me know. We'll coordinate. Okay,

Elaine Abonal:

I will. Yeah, those were super cool. Yeah. I

Laura Day:

mean, I followed your Instagram stories, but I'm actually glad that we're talking about this now for like, the first time. And I don't know, like, your whole story of what brought you to shark out, but as I know, you were living in Manila.

Elaine Abonal:

Yeah, I'm from Manila. So my family is from Manila, yeah, yeah.

Laura Day:

What brought you to Chicago? How did this whole lifestyle unfold for you?

Elaine Abonal:

So I am from Manila. I grew up in Manila. I've always been a city girl, but I've always loved the beach. My family would take me to the beach, and then it all started with surfing. Pretty much I was an exchange student in Wisconsin. Wisconsin, yeah, so I was an exchange student with in Wisconsin when I was 17 years old. And, you know, the Filipinos always want the American dream, like, someday you're gonna live in the US, and someday you're gonna just have the American life. And then I thought that was what I wanted. So I wanted to be an exchange student first, and then maybe go to university in the US. And then I realized when I was placed in Wisconsin that I was not a fan of the cold or winter or wearing a lot of layers. And then my host family took me to Florida for spring break. And then I saw surfers there. Like I didn't know anything about surfing. There was not much surfing in the Philippines back then. Nobody talked about it. So surfing, surfer boys. And then I was thinking, like, I live in a country with 7000 100 plus maybe more now, islands, there must be way somewhere. So I started searching on back then it was Yahoo, where I could take surf lessons. And then I saw that there was surfing in the Philippines. And then when I got back, so after Wisconsin, I didn't wanna, I didn't wanna live anywhere cold anymore. Yeah, fair, yeah. I found La Union. So back then it was La Union that was easily accessible from Manila. Yeah, you know, I took surf lessons there, and then started traveling for surfing. And then after that, I heard about Shi Gao, and back then, that was 2005 so 20 years ago, crazy, wow. I was still a student. I just read about Sher Gao, and then one of my surfer guy friends was going, and I asked him if I could tag along. And then, yeah, that was my first trip to shergao, and you needed to be a good surfer to be traveling to share, go back. Then you needed to have your own surfboard, because there was pretty much nothing. Yeah, I just fell in love with surfing in the Philippines, surfing, share, go. So I would travel. You know, I never stopped. I would travel around the Philippines, just checking out all the different surf spots. And then at some point, I just wanted to live somewhere by the surf. I thought it would be La Union, because I was always based there for a while. But then it got really commercial, I would say really fast, because it was the highway to get there was made so it was super quick to get there. And sugar was back then. Was like, just more like paradise, and yeah. And then I met my husband, Ollie, in Bali, Indonesia. And I think he would have liked, sure, go more than La Union. So yeah, he came over to share, go. Never left. We started renting a house. And then, yeah, now I'm here full time. Wow.

Laura Day:

My gosh, what an incredible journey. I love hearing it, because I'm Filipina too, but I've always been like, oh yeah, there's got to be, like, good surf in the Philippines. And you just, like, never really heard about it, really, until lately I feel like, yeah. So like that exploration of finding good surf in your home. And even, like, when I go back there and I'm like, Oh my God, there's not even just the surf, but just like going in Bucha, like going to different places and seeing different parts of the island and the biodiversity in the whole country as a whole, incredibly different biodiversity. There's like, so much pride. Like, I'm like, Oh, this is, like, where my family's from. This is where we're from, and versus, like, the California surf culture here, that's mainly, like, white, male dominated and to go there and be like, this is like, this is part of our ocean culture and lifestyle. So it's beautiful to hear you tell the story.

Elaine Abonal:

Yeah, it's so nice. Also to see the stuff that you've been putting out, because there are women in the surf, like around the world, but also, like a Filipina like you in another country, and sharing her thoughts and opinions and sharing what it's like to be a woman surfer, you know, in the water in another part of the world, but also voicing it out. Because I feel like there's so many people with so many, so many opinions, but I don't know, don't use their platform. If they do have one, yeah, it's just, I feel like it's important to talk about the things that a lot of people don't really publish or talk about. So you're doing amazing.

Laura Day:

Likewise. Thank you so much. I'm so

Elaine Abonal:

happy to be in this podcast also,

Unknown:

likewise. And so if you guys who are listening don't know much about Filipino culture, Filipinos are very What do you call it? Just like familial to each other. Yeah, yeah. And even if you didn't know each other before, just the fact that we have the commonality of being Filipino, it kind of ties us together in a special way. So yeah, this is, that's why we're, like, so stoked. Yeah,

Elaine Abonal:

it's also so cool, because, like, people from not just California, but the US, like they reach out and like, they see my social media, and I think the first, one of the first things they notice is that I'm Filipina and, like, talking about the Philippines are surfing, and they're like, oh, that encourages them right away. So, yeah, it's like, a Filipino, like, Hey, brother, sister. So that's super cool.

Unknown:

Yeah, have you seen rise of like, what I loved the last time I was there was seeing Filipina women surfing. Like, not just like women serving or tourist surfing or surfing in general, but like, specifically Filipino women, because, and I wonder, too, like, the way you grow up normally, Filipinos are like, Oh, don't get too dark. You don't want to get your skin dark, even though, like, I'm a dark person. Like, that's like, my mom's side. They're really dark. I love seeing that. Like, I love seeing Filipino women getting out and doing outdoor things, especially like in the Philippines. So have you seen a rise of women coming out to surf?

Elaine Abonal:

Yeah, so I've always been tan, and I don't think I really appreciated being tan or Morena until I went, like I said to the US to study where everybody loved my tan, and everybody asked if I was tan all year round. And then when I got back and started surfing where you have to be tan, like, because it means that you're surfing a lot, I really appreciated it. And then, like, you know, you feel more like a surfer here in the Philippines if you're tan. And I just found a self confidence that not just being Filipino gave me, but also surfing. And then, yeah, I saw that. The more I talked about it, the more I shared about it. There's more Filipinas who are surfing. And I think somehow the media just started putting more Morena, like dark skinned girls, you know, just in media there is it's still there. The papaya widening soaps are still there, but there really is a rise in consciousness about like, Hey, we're Filipino. We are born Brown, like some of us are. Many of us are born Brown, and it's beautiful and that we should be proud of it. So, yeah, definitely, just besides the fact that there is a rise in surfing, there's also a rise and, you know, just pride of being yourself and being out there for the Filipinas. Yeah, that's something I'm super proud of, because, yeah, like my uncles, you know, and aunties would say, Hello, you're gonna get dark. Are you sure? Do you put some screen and I don't get teased, man? Like I started in university, I was in the soccer team. So I already got canned from the soccer practice, and then I would come back from weekend surfing, so I was really dark. And I remember one of my guy friends would tease me, like, oh, I can't see you anymore. You're super dark, even if he was also an athlete. And also would get dark. But it's just different when you're a woman or a Filipina, that you're dark, like, not as beautiful. I just kept doing what I was doing, and until now, I'm still doing what I'm doing. And that friend at some point said, I'm so sorry for teasing you back then about your skin like we are adults now. And he's like, I'm so sorry for you back then for your skin color. I'm proud of you and what you're doing. And it's the same for you know, family members. They don't even mention it like, Oh, good. Tomorrow, man, you're so beautiful with your with your tan skin, I wish I had that color. You look so healthy. So there's definitely change in mindset, not just for the young people. I feel like the older people as well. Yeah, so I'm really happy about that.

Laura Day:

It is really so good to hear because, I mean, I would get like, when I was younger, more like, oh, make sure you put on sunscreen, make sure you put on shirt. It wasn't too, too bad. But I do remember being conscious of like, how dark I would get, because I get dark very fast, very easily. And now I think what changed it for me, actually, was when I moved to Australia, everyone was like, Oh, my God, you're 10. They call it. They're like, you're so black, you're so black. I want to be black like you. That's like, the way they say it. And then, yeah, I would just get so dark there. And that's like when I started really embracing it, like, oh, like, it feels good that I can spend time in the sun and I don't burn and like, this is totally what my skin was made for, yeah. And they have noticed, well, maybe not in that sense, but like, the older generation of not, or maybe just evolving in where they think one of my aunties one day, she was like, she didn't see me in a while, and she's like, oh, you know, Lauren, like, still, still, not a boyfriend yet. You know that whole, that whole time. Yeah, it's funny, because I always tell them I'm like, I'm single, like, now, but I haven't been single, like, this whole time you got, you know? But anyways, I remember her at the end of the party coming up to me be like, Oh, I'm sorry for asking you that. I shouldn't have asked you that. And I was like, Oh, wow. Okay, and I'm so used to it. Just like, Oh, it's fine, you know. But it was a kind of a nice surprise where she said that and was realizing, like, oh, I probably shouldn't be asking that. Yeah. And, and I think it comes with we have, like, these automatic things we say and automatic ways we interact in our families, yeah, and so like your friend, like, didn't even realize what he was saying when he made fun of like, your skin color, yeah, so it's nice to hear that he came back and apologized, yeah,

Elaine Abonal:

years after you're so right about how Filipinos just have an automatic response to everything I saw a friend that I hadn't seen in a long time, just recently, and she had been living in Australia, and I didn't recognize her in the airport. And the first thing I said was, oh my God, I didn't recognize you. You're so white. And I'm like, oh my god, Elaine, you're doing what you don't like about Filipinos. And yeah, I had to say sorry right away.

Unknown:

Yeah, so tell us about surfista travels surface

Elaine Abonal:

I started, actually, it's like the anniversary. I totally forgot, really, yeah, February 12. So that's the first ever surface the weekend it was a surf trip. Was 13 years ago, yeah, to this day. So I totally forgot to mention it. So, yeah, anyway, so 13 years ago I started, I called it more serfisa travels. Back then I just organized surf trips for people in Manila to go, first to La Union, yeah, and then we would go eventually to balear and Chagall. And I started that well, one as a way to not stay in the corporate world. Because I was working in Makati in Manila back then, I wanted to do something that I love doing, which was surfing, meeting new people, and traveling pretty much, and sharing my culture. Yeah, I was always frequenting San Juan alone. You haven't been there. I

Unknown:

haven't yet. So, you know, every time we go to the Philippines, it's like, do we go this direction, or do we go this direction, and then, so, like, the last, yeah, exactly. You can't do it all, like, in one loop, right? Like, you have to change. So we haven't yet, but I want to, I really want to, yeah,

Elaine Abonal:

so I would say, like, I feel like it maybe could match like California, because very city, but it's also very long boards, longboard oriented, compared to like Island shagao. So sharga would be like Hawaii, and then maybe La Union would be like California. So yeah, I was always there, and I was always staying in the same resort called San Juan surf resort. And I had a surf dad there. He's Australian, and his son is, like, super known for surfing, like he was also promoting surfing a lot, Luke Landrigan, and I felt like they were my surf family then, and my surf dad, Brian, he said, you know, Elaine, yeah, you have all these things going for you. You're always bringing your friends from university to surfing. Why not get paid for it? Why not do something about it? So yeah, to backtrack, that's how it started. And then I started bringing people from Manila to La Union, baler and chergao, and people would fly in from other countries or even other islands to join surfista so that they could experience surfing with somebody who knows the spot, who really loves surfing, who will surf with them and just have new friends with and, yeah, that's how surfista started, before I settled in check out to focus on check out. Okay, yeah. And then, like, eventually we did camp, so it would be weekends, and then eventually I started all girls camps. There's so many surf camps right now, but I felt like there was a need for girls to have, like, a safe space to learn how to surf with other Filipinos. So I started Sufis, the all girls camps, and just co Ed camps as well in Chicago. And then when I moved permanently to Chicago, I just stayed with that. And then now it's evolved, like, I feel like it's always evolving. Now, we had to stop the camps, because back then it was really hard to navigate Chagall. Yeah, there were not much surf resorts. There was no public transportation. So I'd have to have numbers of what you call habal habals, like motorcycles. You'd have to know where to eat, where to go back then. So that was what I was doing for the groups. But since Chicago has changed so much, there's so many accommodations, it's just easier. Now we just focus now on surf lessons and packages and surfing for kids, because now we have a kid and yeah, and I feel like it's going to evolve and maybe have camps again, because we're building more rooms in our property. So hopefully that happens soon,

Laura Day:

might have to collaborate on a camp. Yeah, yeah. So let's talk about how much shark out has changed, and like what you've seen, even just from the short time of when I went 2016 to 2022 end of 22 so let's say almost 23 so what is that? 4567, years changed dramatically. Because, like, when I came back, I was looking through my Instagram feed of when I posted in 2016 and I was trying to find, like, the same snapshot locations, and I couldn't, because I think I don't know if, like, the road, it was a dirt road, mostly back then, and then they were just starting to pave some stuff. And like, it was so different. It was blowing my mind. Like, oh my god, I can't even, like, orient myself. I mean, it's been amazing. I would love to hear from you what you think of, like, the growth and how it's changed and pros and cons, because you do talk about this on your Instagram, which I love. I love that you're like, transparent and clear, and you're just, like, telling people how it is, and giving them advice on like how they should be traveling in Chicago, acting in Chicago, surfing in Chicago, all of that.

Elaine Abonal:

So like, the first time I've been to Chicago was 2005 which is a long time ago. And I think the big shift happened was when they released a movie called shergao. I don't know if you've seen. It or it No. So there was a Filipino movie called sure gal. I think it was 2017, 18 or something. And yeah, like I was saying before, was sugar was an island that people would go to if they already knew how to surf, wanted to surf. And it was just all about surfing. And then now it's after the movie, and the storyline of that movie was that this vlogger was heartbroken and wanted to try to find herself in chagao. And I thought it'd be heavy on surfing, but it was a lot about partying. So I think that movie brought a whole bunch of different just a different kind of crowd to shergao. So more party goers, younger people who don't really care or know about surfing. And then, because of that, more businesses came. And for a while I really didn't like it, because I was here for the surf. I'm here for the surfing. I was here to meet people who like nature, like being outside. And, I mean, I partied, but at some point, only party people were coming, and I was saying on social media that I would go, you know, to an island, and people would just blast their speakers, and their main goal was just to party and get drunk. And yeah, I didn't like it, but I really couldn't do anything about it. Because, yeah, I couldn't do anything about it, and I just had to go with the flow. And then the pandemic happened. So we got a break from all of that, because nobody was allowed to travel. And then after that, the big typhoon called Odette happened, yeah, and a lot of things were destroyed, so you'd really have to have love to come back straight away, but then now, yeah, like you said, more so in 2025 there's a lot of resorts, a lot of restaurants, a lot of bars. So the pros and cons of it is, I'll start with the pros first, me as somebody who is growing up getting older here, it's better because there are more things to have a family. There's a school for my daughter. She's five years old. There are choices for schools now. There are clinics. There are more clinics in case you get sick, because back then, you'd have a throat infection and you wouldn't have anything, you wouldn't have anything here, and there wouldn't be one doctor to look at your throat just to check if you do have an infection. So there are clinics. It's easier to get food, like, back then, you know, you would have to hide your Oreos because you didn't want to share it with anybody like you literally had to, like, smuggle in, like, little treats, because it was hard to get anything on the island. So there's more businesses and work for people now there's a lot more income, which is great for the locals. You can see some of people's quality of lives getting better because of the income and the jobs that they can get and and the businesses that they're able to make. So that's really good, especially like we are so heavily dependent on tourism, it's been very beneficial for the people who live here, but I'll think of more later. But like cons is, yeah, like one the crowds, there's a lot more people who really come here for the parties and don't care so much about nature or recycling or not leaving a trace. That irks us a lot as surfers, because the ocean is our playground, and we clean up after these people who don't realize how much trash they're leaving behind. So that's why a lot of crowds peak season, like Holy Week or the coming Valentine's Day or holidays. If you want to just have a nice meal with your family, you have to really reserve a table, because it's full. It's full everywhere. So we'd rather just, a lot of us who live here would rather just eat at home or hang out with friends at home, because it does get very crowded. So that's just just little annoyances for the bigger stuff. Like I mentioned recently, I wanted to bring my daughter to just play on the beach, and from our house to the closest beach, it's just two minutes away. It's literally just, you just cross a few streets, and then you're there. And when I wanted to bring her, everything was fenced off. I couldn't enter anywhere, and I was driving with her on a motorbike, and I thought I would just find the next opening to the beach, but it took like 10 to 15 minutes driving just to find a place for her to just play on the beach without having to go through a resort or go through a restaurant. So I think that's one of the cons. A lot of the beachfront property are fenced off. Wow. Everybody says that the beach is free, and by law, should be for everyone, yes, but how do I get in there? I'd have to take a boat and go all the way around, and I can't get in there. I just want the access. So that's one thing, because the beachfront property have all been bought off. Prices are very expensive. In Chicago right now, a lot of people get shocked, even ourselves, by how the prices have gone up with fish or vegetables, because one thing, everything is imported, which is understandable. There's not really a big farm culture here, or things don't grow here as much so things come from the other islands, but because you're competing against people from resorts, okay, you know, you know, there's a higher demand and the prices go up. So the worry there is that locals can't afford even to buy vegetables or buy their own food and end up just buying this the most simple things or, I mean, thankfully, many can fish and do their own thing, but it's it's still expensive compared to other touristy islands like Bali. If you go to Indonesia, the food is super cheap.

Unknown:

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Elaine Abonal:

What about you? Like, did you notice anything were the changes?

Laura Day:

Yeah. So one of the first things I remember coming back in 2022 was coming out of the airport and then seeing, and I know, like, it was still, like, just kind of after Odette. So like, I got the feeling that people were just getting kind of back at it. And there's a lot of people right there, right by the airport, right that live right in there. That's kind of like the first time I really got to see, like, chargon ons, like, just people that, you know, born here, lived here, like, just, are never going to leave char gal, this is, this is their home. And so I always kind of just really wonder, like, how development affects them, you know, because they can't, like, if there's another typhoon, if there's another natural disaster, they can't leave and go home. This is their home. So I always wonder about that I do, like, you know, on social media, I do see, like a lot of, one thing that gets to me sometimes is there'll be somebody, and that's from whatever, another part of the world. And they come in and they're like, oh, you know Filipino culture. I just like, I feel so at home here. I love it so much. And something that I wish for them was to, like, go back and be like, hey, our culture that is more mono and more like, Soul focused. Like, how can we be more like this and not just take it as like, Oh, this is my only. This is my experience. I feel so welcome here. I'm going to move here. But how can you pick what you learn and put it back out in the world in another way, not that that has to do with like the sharga island. But I did notice, let's see, the first time I came, yeah, the surf breaks didn't seem very crowded

Elaine Abonal:

at all. Yeah, sorry, I forgot to mention that. Yeah, this next time,

Laura Day:

there was definitely more like, definitely like, trying to surf around, either beginners getting dropped in on by Australians. Yeah, yeah, getting dropped in on. I actually had one moment where I had hired a guide, and he took me out, and he waved me into a wave. And I had seen this guy over on my left, kind of far, but still over on my left, going to drop in on it, but the guide waved me in. So I'm kind of like, well, he knows, I think he's watching what he's doing, so he just told me to go. So I went into it. He actually waved me in, knowing my level to drop in on that guy, because that guy had taken so many waves, and that guy was so mad, just went dead and just yelling and stuff like that. And all the local chargonnas Were like, laughing. They're like, Oh, why is he so angry? Yeah, I saw more of that. I think one of the things that I get concerned about, and you talk about this is that, you know, there's a lot of surf guides. And when people ask, like, Oh, who's been to charcoal, any advice? I'm always like, there's lots of surf guides everywhere. And I'm like, make sure you, like, hire someone from an organization, or, like, I'll write them in yours, or from a shop, you know, because we have gone out to surf and I'm like, oh, man, should this person be on this wave? Like, if you're getting pushed in, I do a wave. I don't think this is your level. Yeah, they'll still take them out. So that's, I think that has to do with more with crowds. That's kind of the different the things I've seen. But again, like lots of places to eat. Eat, even though, the first time we went, I think we ate at the same resort that we stayed at the whole time, and it was good, but lots of places to eat. I don't even think last time we went to, like, get a massage or shopping or any of that stuff, I don't think, I don't think we did any of that stuff the first time. So, yeah, a lot more to do. And better board,

Elaine Abonal:

yeah, okay, yeah, more choices. You don't have to bring your own, because there's a lot more choices. Yeah, can I add about the surf Park? Because I forgot about that part for some reason. Yeah, in terms of renting surfboards and having more surf schools, there's a lot more choices now, which is a good thing. But like you said, the surf spots are more crowded. You used to be able to surf by yourself, with your friends, without any drama or hassle. You know, there would be a spot for beginners and a spot for more experienced surfers. But now it's just to be honest, as somebody who teaches here and somebody who lives here, some days, I just prefer not to surf if I know it's going to be crowded. There's a lot of instructors and teachers because they know how to push or because they've surfed for a year. I see it on social media. I've seen it on Tiktok, somebody getting interviewed and being asked, Oh, you're a surf instructor, how long have you been surfing? And the guy would say, a year. And then so the interview were would be like, oh, so it just takes a year to teach how to serve. Like, yeah, you just, you know whatever answer. And it surprises me that people just believe it. But then again, like when people don't know anything about surfing, they'll just, they'll just absorb whatever is there on social media, but it's a lot more, I would say, messy. Now, in terms of the lineup for me, as somebody who was not born here. I can't tell somebody off, because they're gonna say, you're not local, you're a woman. You can't say what you're saying, although I still do say something either on my social media. There has been an effort to make an association for surf instructors, which is great, but there are so many surf spots in chagao, you take a boat, and there's like, so many surf spots, so it's really hard to regulate and police every single person teaching. So in terms of the teaching part, I would say, if you really want to learn properly, you'd have to do your research, check the Google reviews and make sure that the person you're learning from knows what they're doing, because now it's like a market you go to cloud nine, and people are hailing you down surf lesson, sir, and it's stressful for some people, but yeah, some people will, will just go for it. And then in terms of surfers, you know, like I said, back then, it was people who knew how to surf or had a genuine interest to learn how to surf now, it's a lot of, yeah, social media. A lot of people want it for pictures, just to get the shot. They don't care if they don't know what they're doing and they're in a spot that they're not supposed to be in. There's a lot of more aggro surfer guys as well. So like you mentioned, there were a lot of Australians. Now we get all kinds of nationalities. There's a lot of Spanish Israelis, just all kinds of nationalities, and some I won't mention, but some nationalities are more macho or more sexist than Filipino culture, because we're very matriarchal. The local guys know me. You know, we respect each other. We do our own thing. And if I tell maybe say a Filipino beginner say, Hey, you shouldn't be here. Paddle around, they would just listen. But I've been experiencing a lot of like, aggro guys not listening to me, just because I'm a woman, telling them, get out of the way. Go around, paddle back around. Just simple things that they don't know because I don't know they're guys. They weren't taught properly. Yeah, that's annoying and stressful, and people have voiced that out on their social media about, you know, respecting the people who live here, even if they're a woman. So I've had to be tougher. So in the beginning, you know, as a girl, you want to be friendly, you want to be accommodating, you want to be hospitable. Because you're Filipino. These are tourists. They came here to surf. They paid for their flight. But I think things have happened to me last year that I've said, Okay, I'm 40 years old now. I've lived here long enough I'm teaching surfing. I'm not going to be too nice anymore. I would like literally point to someone and tell them to paddle around, because I have to, otherwise it's dangerous. People can get hurt. People will think that they're just doing the right thing. So I've had to maybe change my personality in the water, be tougher, because it has to be done now, like in other places, probably like Hawaii or other places you'd have to. It's not like that level where people you know beat each other up, but you'd have to tell the tourists that have no idea of surf etiquette or don't know what they're doing that. Hey dude, that's not that's not how it works. Somebody from here has to tell them, even if that is our source of income, even if you. You know, they are the ones bring money, so the justification is, let them do whatever they want, because they're paying for stuff. But no, this is the water we surf in. This is we all live here. We're all a community. We have to watch out for each other and our students, because otherwise it's just going to be a mess. Yeah?

Laura Day:

And really dangerous, yeah. And shargao. It's funny, because the last time I went, I was like, thinking, oh, man, maybe I should really think more about, like, what's the contingency plan if you get hurt? Because, like, that's the thing. Do you get seriously hurt? There's not going to be a rescue chopper to airlift you to. You'd have

Elaine Abonal:

to know the number, yeah.

Laura Day:

So I think it's, it's super important for people like you to, like, regulate the lineup and regulate it, even if people don't like it.

Elaine Abonal:

Yeah, it's important. It's something that should be talked about. I feel like it's not talked about enough by people who do have a voice, like I know, in many other countries where surfing is older, you can't get away with, you know, being a cook in the lineup, you're going to get told off, or if you're in the wrong spot, you're going to get told off. Whereas, like you said here, not only tourists by themselves, go to a place where they shouldn't be. Unfortunately, people who work and live here do bring their students also to spots and conditions they're not supposed to be in. So

Laura Day:

yeah, that was one thing. Like, I've only been to like a handful, like a couple of spots there in charcoal, but every time I've gone, and maybe it's also the season, it's been, like, challenging surf for me at that time in like, however I like my abilities, even this last time was probably the most challenging surf I've ever surfed. And I did feel that the guide that I had, like, we started in, like, small spots and small days, because I also had my cousin with me, and she was taking some lessons. So of course, she wasn't going to throw her out anywhere. But he was like, I want to take you somewhere else. And the next couple days were really challenging, bigger waves, a lot of current, all of that. And I think that some people maybe romanticize what surfing on an island is like, not really realizing how strong the currents are, how rocky or reefy the bottoms are. And I, when people ask, I like to tell them, like, you're looking for a hotel with a sandy beach where you just walk out and there's your break. Like, charcoal might not be for you.

Elaine Abonal:

Yeah, no,

Laura Day:

yeah, yeah. So like, what are the things that people should know about Chaga? Like, if they're listening and they've heard, like, all the buzz about going to the Philippines, because now it's so crazy. No one ever talked about going to the Philippines ever before. Like, yeah, never you know, from my whole adult like, Child Life to adulthood, and only now, in the last two years, people are like, every post is like, about the Philippines that I see, and I'm like, wow, it's crazy, right? Yeah, wow. You're you guys are actually finally interested in my culture. Like, you know you weren't before. But so for those people listening that are interested in coming to the Philippines to serve specifically Shar gal, like, what kind of advice do you have for them?

Elaine Abonal:

Okay, for people visiting shergao or the Philippines to serve I would say one manage your expectations, because I said that there is a clinic, there is improvement, but if something serious happens to you, you'd have to be flown out by a chopper, which is going to be super expensive, or be taken out on a boat. The emergency clinics here, we don't have it. So if you're going to do something like surfing, make sure that you know what you're doing, or you're going out to spots that are good for you, because in terms of injuries or accidents, check out, is not the place where you want to get hurt. Bring your own medicine if you have a specific condition. If you're traveling with kids, bring their own medicine. There are pharmacies. There's a lot more pharmacies now, but they're closed after a certain hour. They're closed on Sundays. They're not 24 hours. So yeah, just in terms of medical things, just be very careful. If you have a very specific need or condition in terms of surfboards, back then, I would say, Bring Your Own surfboard. But there's a lot more choices now. Just manage your expectations, because, like you were saying, everybody's posting about share down on social media, and it always looks like the spots are empty. It's not, unless you get really lucky on a day you know where you went somewhere, and you were the only ones out. But I would say a lot of the surf spots are empty unless you take a boat and really make your way out of everybody's way and find a spot for you. Chagall is popular, but there are more tourists that come with that, so don't get so frustrated with the reality that's a reality right now. If you want an empty surf spot, research, go out. Go first thing in the morning. Go when it's noontime and it's super hot, nobody wants to go out. I would say, try to get to know the locals, or assimilate into the culture, because I feel like because sherga was more modern now, and there's a lot more things for tourists that many people come and go without even saying. Eating salamat once, you know like or eating Filipino dish once, because there are more choices for foreigners and tourists. But I would say, if you really want the share go experience or the Philippine experience, get to know somebody. Learn five words, try Filipino food, ask about it, because the locals will see your genuine interest in the culture or in the island, and remember you, and when you come back, you know you're gonna have a friend for serving or for life. Because, yeah, I do notice now, because of the changes, that there's a disconnect now between locals and people who live here and people who visit now it's just like, Ah, they're gonna leave. They're gonna leave anyway. So whatever. Back then in the water, everybody were friends. There was no difference with, you know, the haves and have nots. Like everybody was equal in the ocean. But now I feel like it's not the same. Like people think that they're paying for an expensive resort, and then they deserve all the waves. Just respect the culture, respect the people. Get to know the people, even if you're there for just a short time, and then you'll have a more meaningful experience with surfing or just the island. Yeah, get to know the local spots where to eat. Maybe I should make a list and just send it to somebody who's interested. I do have a list of restaurants that I like, but it's mixed. But maybe I should just have, like, supporting local places. Because, yeah, yeah, the locals who are getting into these small businesses do this so that they can pay their bills or survive not to get rich. Really, there's big resorts here, maybe owned by foreigners or Filipinos, but they already have the money. So I would say support the ones who are doing it to send their kid to school or, yeah, just live a better life. Yeah,

Laura Day:

that's so great. I travel all that way to not learn about the culture. And Filipino culture is so rich and so diverse everywhere you go, incredible. Like you guys have ever visited the Philippines, for those listening, like, from town to town. There could be a different dialect there. Yeah, like, it's so it's really incredible. When I came into Chicago the last time I came, yeah, it got on, like, the shuttle to go to into general Luna and the at the airport, and the bus driver. He had shuttle driver. He was talking to me in visaya, but visaya sounds just close enough to Tagalog that my brain was like, why can't I understand? Like, talking to me, why can't I understand? And then finally, another lady, she translated for me, but I was like, it's those little things like that make it really a special place. And so you're right, enjoy the culture and be a part of it, yeah,

Elaine Abonal:

yeah, even Sure. Go on, on, if you leave the island and go to Surigao, it's different, like they say things differently

Laura Day:

already. Are you, like, hopeful for the future and what it looks like? And do you feel like things are moving in a direction that are going to be, that's going to be sustainable tourism?

Elaine Abonal:

It's hard, you know, I'm just a hopeful person. I always just like, see the positive and try to find what's good in it for everybody. But I think to be realistic, it's very important for the community here to pay attention to what's happening and regulate like, whether it's in terms of trash or I mentioned beach access, or, you know, supporting the locals. It could be detrimental to many of the people who live here, the locals, if we just don't pay attention and say what needs to be said. Because, of course, there's politics involved. There's, you know, all these things that are that also contribute to why these things are happening to the island. And I'd like to think and believe that people are doing things for the benefit of others. You know that politicians are making choices to help everybody? That's what I would like to believe. But if not, then people hopefully will use their voices and set up and say something about it, because nothing's gonna happen if we don't mention anything. But I'm hopeful, like I'm happy, I'm happy to be here. I hope that my daughter will grow up in a beautiful place that still holds the local culture and the values of Filipinos, and not just like a party Island? Yeah, I'm hopeful that cherga will still be a paradise, maybe a modern, much more modern paradise, but still be a place where people love to come and where Filipinos feel at home, and where I would like to live forever. That's the plan. We don't have plans of going anywhere else. So, yeah, I have to be hopeful. And I am

Laura Day:

hopeful. That's good. I'm glad. I'm glad to hear that, because that's something I always think about, coming there, just observing how things have changed. And like feeling, you know, I don't live in the Philippines, but I feel like a little of that, like heartache, a little bit like, oh yeah, just I remember the very first time I came. 2016 we went to this spot that you take, you know, motorcycle into the coconut groves. I even remember the coconut farmers had to move stuff out of our way to get into the beach with, yeah, it was like, so long ago, and there were these little boys, a group of little boys, maybe, like, seven years old, and they're walking on the beach, and they had taken their clothes off because, I think they were trying to scare the fish into like, one pool. They were like, fishing, yeah. And they were like, whipping the water and kind of moving the fish into a pool of like, in one area. And I just thought, like, Oh, this is it's so sweet that they don't have any reason to have any shame, like that. They're just collecting food. And I really like hope. I don't know, in 10 years time, will they be able to do this? I hope so. Yeah, right, you know, will this beach be all resort, or will they have, will they be able to do, like, go about their way? So I definitely see that, and I feel that like, Oh, I really wish for the people that were born on that island and will stay on that island still have, like, their livelihood and the way that they live,

Elaine Abonal:

yeah, oh, I forgot to mention in terms of hope, so you've heard about the typhoon Odette, yeah, from 2021 So pretty much, like many things, if not, everything was destroyed. And when that happened to us, I thought that I couldn't come back to Shiga and live anymore, because it just seemed like it seemed like it was a catastrophe, like everything was, you know, no water, no electricity, no everything. And I was just so heartbroken by what happened. And share, go as a community after that. You know, disaster teams up together and homes were built. Electricity was back after three months. Three months is quick for an entire island to have no electricity. If you come,

Laura Day:

you came right. What month did you come? Oh, it's always, usually November, December, like, I think, just

Elaine Abonal:

few months after many things were rebuilt, people were sending help from the mainland or other countries to shergao, because they've been to shergao, or they know somebody from Chicago, and that was a, like, a big proof of my hope, because that could have gone like down, like things could have gone worse after that, but people stepped up. People helped out. I have a friend who moved here very recently, and she said, Whatever happened after Odette proved to her that she loves being here or loves the people here, because just that sense of community, of helping each other, the Filipinos, of course, there was drama and things that happened. You know, these asses happened, but just the Filipinos helped each other the private sector. You know, we complain about these private resorts and stuff, but it was also the private businesses that helped restore a lot of the place, not all, but like, there was a lot of help, also from the private sector, when we couldn't get it from the government. So that's why I have hope, because of the community and because of that happened, that was proof of hope and, well, resilience and just like wanting the best for everybody.

Laura Day:

Yeah, that's the Filipino spirit. Yeah, that's so beautiful to hear. Well, thank you for coming on and sharing more about Shar gal. I feel like we could talk forever. I

Elaine Abonal:

know we should do this without them. Maybe I'll take another year to plan it. Just

Laura Day:

kidding. It's okay. It'll be worth it. But I admire what you've done. I admire the business you've built, and I like, I really look up to you, and I love that we can share this. It really makes me feel good about like, doing what I do, and I feel very supported by you. So I appreciate that. Thank you

Elaine Abonal:

so much also for doing what you're doing. I always follow your adventures, and it's just so nice to know you know a strong, confident surfer girl, Filipino woman, like he was out there saying their thoughts. So yeah, I support you, and thank you for having me here. Thank you,

Unknown:

all right, lady, we've come to the end of our episode, but not the end of the conversation after listening. I hope that you feel represented, empowered and even better, connected to your surf sisters in our beautiful surf lady community. Let's stay connected before our next episode. Follow me on Instagram at Confessions of a surf lady, and follow our amazing women's surf community, where we get together to learn more surf better and live happy. That is at surf society, spelled s, O, C, i, e, t, e, last but not least, join us in our exclusive surf society platform. Join us for your first week free by clicking the link at the top of the show notes, thank you so much for bringing your unique and beautiful self to our lineup at Confessions of a surf lady, I'll see you on our next episode. Your host, Laura Day, you.