i've been reading about the april 10 daet bantayog surf festival.  where can i get the details?  is it a surf comp? is it starting on april 10, a thursday? what are the activites?

i can go only sa weekend (night of 11th) because of work. will i be missing the festival?

thanks.

since you are a surfer and from metro manila, then you are qualified.  just fill-out the application form at 540 surf shop (its the headquarters at the moment), then you're a member.  540 is at c-5, quezon city (near katips).

why don't you drop by tonight (thursday, april 3) for a round of beer.  its a fund-raising event.  you'll meet the active members there. it'll also be fun.

enjoy surfing!

i tried accessing your website, but failed.  maybe its because of  my server.  anyway, i'll try later.

do you know that there is a group or movement called "green zinc".  its a coincidence that you and they have evidently the same goal and almost identical names.

they are manila-based surfers who donated a garbage truck to the municipality of san juan, la union to collect the garbage there, particularly in the spots where people surf.  the garbage truck was turned over during the recent msa surf comp in la union.  they also donated garbage bins and made arrangement with the resort owners and the mayor so that 2 full-time garbage collectors pick up trash at the surf spot in urbiztondo.  finally, they also sell t-shirts to  fund their next project which is to establish water treatment facilities in the same area.  their t-shirts are on sale now in most surf shops in manila and in la union.  

thanks to them the surf breaks in san juan, la union are now noticeably cleaner.

if you want to see some pictures of the t-shirts and the people involved (who were wearing them), they're posted at manilasurfers.multiply.com.  i think their contact details are also there.

those who are part of the movement usually sport green zinc oxide marks on their faces (hence, the name) and can be seen picking up trash (usually, or supposedly).

i'm sure this group would be very interested to coordinate with someone like you who is exerting efforts for cleaner and safer beaches.

here's a guy who cares about the environment and is doing something about it.  

a toast to you, ryan.

this coincides exactly with aloha boardsport's sale of surfboards (30% off) and surf apparel (40% off) in rockwell, makati.

aloha's sale is, in turn, part of the rockwell mall-wide sale that runs from april 4 to 7.  i got the text from mooney and carlo of aloha yesterday.

competition benefits talaga the consumers.

i suggest you try la union: sand ang bottom so you won't get hurt easily; consistent ang alon so you won't get disppointed mostly (but call a local and check forecast first - wetsand.com, see below for cel number); lots of surf instructors; established surfing community;  and easy to go to (just take a bus - partas is choice of the moment - once you get off at urbiztondo, san juan, la union, the surf resorts are there.)  partas conductors even wake you up when you get there (just tell them you'll get off at "sebay" - its a surf resort there that was once a stop-over of buses so conductors are faimilar with it.)

lemon dines is the president of la union surf club 09197650707. he'll help you get instructor (he teaches himself), board rentals, accommodation.

zambales is also good.  but the wave is not consistent now (it will be when its "south swell" which starts in july.  depending on the season, waves either come from the south or north, those facing the south get south swell, etc. its north swell now) and you have to take several rides to go to the surf spots. or bring a car. check forecast and call a local before you go.

dodo ramos is the president of zambales surfing association 09202504008.  he owns crystal beach resort (which has one of the 2 popular surf breaks in the province) and he also single-handedly developed zambales as a surfing destination.  the other surf break is pundakit. you can contact nora 09182788188 (owner of a resort named after her) or wilson 09218037158 (a surf instructor).

daet is also okay. call jan 09157699224

do surf, it'll change your life (from the movie "pointbreak")

good luck.

la union surf lesson rate is P200 instructor and P200 board rental or P400 per hour. it varies, but not much.

i don't know about zambales and daet.  the same yata.

its cheaper if you get them for 1 day or whole weekend (package).

good luck.