Tanauan has truly changed! Why am I saying this? I discovered that my beloved town is now a haven for shows exploiting young women clad in skimpy bikinis parading for all men to ogle at. Way before, shows such as this could have raised the eyebrows of the conservative groups, but then, this has been done previously, as I was informed, and no one seemed to object!

This Bikini Open Competition held just last December 30, 2007 was part of the nightly attraction to lure people to the 2007 Tanauan Skim Open 4^th National Competition (see related article previously posted on this website) as organized by the LGU. With a jampacked crowd, I suppose it completely stole the main attraction which was skimboarding. I deduce we’re not just touting the town now as the skimboarding capital but probably the center of bikini open and exploiter of women as well. Well, just nine very young women tried to outshine each other through a hotly-contested showcase of flesh and flesh and flesh to the delight of the audience composed mostly of men.

I have seen too many a bikini competition but not as vulgar and as indecently choreographed as this one. It became nauseating at some point as each girl tried to win the nod of audience and judges by doing stuffs and acts seen only in cheapy girlie bars. Foreign visitors acted as judges who all seemed to be shocked at the lewd show hurled at their face. One judge was even seen documenting the show with his digital video camera as each girl stepped down and gyrated right infront of the judges. The rest of the men scamper to the front with their camera cellphones as each one comes out of the stage. It was truly a sight of lust and basic instinct in men all trying to get a slice of the best meat, this time, the best view.

As the show progresses, the girls all generated yelps, not just shrieks, as they come out with less and less piece of cloth to hide their loins. What made it even more improper was that there were too many kids present. My godchildren, aged 7 and 9 years old could not help but utter, “Mama, panguli na kita, makaharadlok na man iton”. (Mama, let’s go home, this is getting scary). We had to protect the impressionable mind of these kids by bringing them home.

Now, the height of this offensive show came when the girls were made to have that “wet-look” by stepping down to a water shower all the more emphasizing their wares and executed steps way beyond the decency level. The audience really became euphoric! As if by act and reminder from God, even before the show was midway through, the whole of Tanauan was engulfed with darkness as the light went out. For nearly an hour, the show was suspended. Thanks to the generated light beamed at the beach front for the night scheduled skimboard competition, the Bantay-Dagat was spared from total darkness. Even then, most of the audience decided to go home rather than wait.

The show was indeed a success judging by the men who still decided to stay. Now, I could not just comprehend why the show must be presented this way. It could have been done in a tasteful manner as not to offend the taste of everyone and an acceptable decorum or modesty level for a show of this nature. Granting that this was done in the beach, still it did not justify the type of choreography and production the girls were made to go through. I really pitied those girls who, as I heard from others near me, that they are projecting images of easy lay girls or in local dialect, “baga hin mga pokpok”. I know these girls are decent but with the kind of treatment they got and the intensity of the competition, they really had to do shameful acts just to be shine and be noticed. Right after the show, I witnessed how one drunk man approached one of the contestants, asking for her number and uttering suggestive words implying the girl is an easy lay.

Even more, what deeply disturbed my mind is why our local government unit is nurturing this kind of show. Why do we have to resort to this cheap gimmickry just to lure domestic tourism and financial backers? They could have at least “censored” or mentored the choreographers and girls to produce a decent show and not as “wildly primitive” as this one. Had it been shown on national television, for sure, this could have generated negative publicity mileage for our town and its leaders or, probably, responsible authorities could have been sacked and sanctioned by now. By then, we would have unabashedly and completely achieved our dream as the Skimboarding Capital of the Philippines vis-à -vis Exploiter of Women”. Now, we do not want that to happen, right? After all, Tanauan, so they say, is the “Bungto han Kamag-araman.” Well, we just hope this will not happen again.

Sadly, even before I left for Manila, I heard there was another bikini open in Marabut, Samar, with almost the same set of girls joining the competition. But then, the producer of the said show, who also witnessed the Tanauan Bikini Open declared, “I do not want that kind of show as done in Tanauan.” Need I say more?

“Skimmers surf but surfers may not skim…” –J. Duazo Jr., PSA

Before coming up with an article telling the untold story of my quest to find out what in the world is Skimboarding, I made a promise to publish as well an article about it that will lead people to understand the basics of the sport. Now, I myself is not much of a reliable source of information, so I decided to write the interview I did with Philippine Skimboarding Association (PSA) President Juan Duazo Jr., this, to give more “teeth” and credibility in this story. So for all those “blind” about the sport, the way I was before, here’s your chance to know stuff about it.

Read on…

(The interview was done in Cebuano dialect, as requested by Mr. Duazo and I took the liberty of translating it in English for the benefit of those who can’t understand that language…)

RMEB: Good afternoon po, thank you for accommodating my request to have this interview.
JDJr: Your welcome. I hope I can satisfy your curiosity of the sport.

RMEB: Ok, here we go po, the first and probably the most important question for the day is, what is Skimboarding? And why is it called Skimboarding?
JDJr: Skimboarding is a sport that makes use of the waves that break in the shore. Skimmers use these waves to do some tricks and exhibitions, practically riding over them, doing stunts, under or “in” them before the wave finally breaks into the shoreline.

RMEB: Why the term SKIM po?
JDJr: The term skim means glide and read or browse quickly. Thus, Skimboarding is basically gliding quickly into the thin water.

RMEB: Now, this part is quite confusing to me, is Skimboarding the same as surfing? Is there any difference? Who gets to have a better standing where proficiency or excellence in this sport is concerned?
JDJr: Actually we skimmers don’t hold much weight as to who gets to “conquer” the water or the waves more. Skimboarding is very much different from surfing. You were right in your quip kanina that Skimboarding and surfing uses different sizes of waves. While surfing requires you to be in the deeper part of the sea, Skimboarding is basically done in the shorelines of the sea, using the thin water on it to do stunts and exhibitions.

RMEB: So which one is tougher or more difficulty to do po?
JDJr: We skimmers don’t get to judge as to who are better or who can deliver more tricks using waves, if that’s what you want to know. All we know is the fact that Skimboarding and surfing are different sports using the same requirements, a board and a wave. No contest between them at all.

RMEB: Oh I see. So in Skimboarding, you just have to do your thing here in the shore? No need for you to really like, worry about sharks or other deep-sea water perils? Hehehe…forgive po my naiveté?
JDJr: Yes, Skimboarding is done in the shores. No sharks involved. (Smiles) Actually, it’s like painting, the wave is the canvas, the smaller the wave, the smaller the chance for you to paint your image. The bigger the wave, the bigger the chance to do more tricks and stuff using your board.

RMEB: So Skimboarding also utilizes big waves breaking into the shore?
JDJr: Yes. Necessarily. Skimboarding competition is actually judged using 3 sound bases: wave quality, trick difficulty and execution of the trick. Skimmers have to wait for the right wave to rush into the shore, do their stunts using this wave before it finally breaks into the shore line.

RMEB: So with this po, what physical training does one need for the sport?
JDJr: Well, just like surfing, a skimmer has to master their balancing prowess, the gift of swimming and the ability to ride the waves. But I guess Skimboarding is even more athletic than surfing, since it will require you to run to meet the waves before doing your trick. As for personal training, well, I think there are no actual physical examinations needed; to do Skimboarding one has just to be enthusiastic about the sport and should do personal preparation before actually doing the sport, some great skimmers today actually begun by observing others to do it. I think skimmers would agree with me when I say that they have to suffer mending thousands bruises, aching muscles and at times worse case scenario, broken bones, before finally mastering the sport.

RMEB: Run? Bakit po?
JDJr: The running part is actually needed because you have to “meet” the wave before riding your board and doing your tricks on or in them. Surfers will have to lay flat or sit on their boards, paddling, as they wait for the right wave. Skimmers run and meet the waves.

RMEB: Ah…okay. If I intend to do the sport, what specific size of board do I need? Do I need to use a big one, since I am big? What’s the measurement po?
JDJr: Actually Skimboarding requires the basic law of physics, that for you to really balance on a board there has to be congruence on the size of the board and your body type. These two have to be “balance” to a certain extent. So, for every body type there is a specific size of the board. Ergo, the taller or heavier a skimmer becomes, the bigger the board he needs. I think most of our skimmers use custom-made boards for themselves.

RMEB: During a competition, does each skimmer have to just run and ride the waves? Or do they compete simultaneously? How do you go about it?
JDJr: Every round of the competition is called Heat. Each heat requires 4 skimmers to simultaneously do their tricks for 5 to 10 minutes. These skimmers will share the “limelight” and the waves for that allotted time. At the end of each heat, 2 skimmers will be given the chance to advance to the next round.

RMEB: As for the tricks sir, can you describe or name some?
JDJr: Oh well, for the tricks we have call Front Side Air Shove It, in this trick, a skimmer is to use the wave as a ramp to launch into the air to make a 180 degrees revolution while on board. And then we also have what we call, Tube Ride or Barrel where the skimmer has to duck into the wave as it closes out, just like surfing.

RMEB: So, how does Skimboarding “network” grow? Or how do you encourage individuals to do this kind of a sport?
JDJr: Actually, the sport’s basic requirement is personal passion to really do the sport as well as an untiring enthusiasm. Once you finally decide to do Skimboarding, then off you go!

RMEB: So there are other competitions aside from this national competition?
JDJr: Actually PSA holds local competition is done to encourage beginners and see if they are really into the sport. And then we hold this annual National Skimboarding competition to scour and discover more gifted skimmers all over the country. We hope to establish Skimboarding as one credible and valid sport. Who knows, it may soon find its way to the Olympics or Sea Games, di ba? International competition here in Tanauan is not impossible but we, together with Tanauan local government and SPAWNorg, is still gearing up for it.

RMEB: And now the clincher question? Hehehe… Why in Tanauan, Leyte? Why did Tanauan become the Skimboarding capital of the Philippines?
JDJr: Actually, Skimboarding is done by some in other parts of the country. However, Tanauan became the Skimboarding capital because the town has the highest saturation of skimmers and riders in the country. I think skimmers in Tanauan grow like mushrooms overnight. A lot of Tanauanons love the sport and almost every day, a new skimmer is born here in Tanauan. This is well-received sport here in Tanauan and it is definitely here to stay.

RMEB: Okay po! Now I know now why Skimboarding is such a great hit not only here in Tanauan but in the rest of the country. My thanks to you Sir for the time provided. Hope we Skimboarding in Olympics soon.
JDJr: Welcome dear. The pleasures mine. So, you’d like to understand more of Skimboarding? Come, let’s see what’s happening there on the shores now…

So off we go to watch the 4th National Skimboarding held in Tanauan just very recently.

If you want to try the sport, the shores of Tanauan wait!

I usually make it a yearly effort to go home to our beloved town, Tanauan to spend the long Christmas break with my family. I usually am excited, just like other Tanauaneños who have made a living somewhere else, as this is that much-awaited time when one gets to reunite with childhood friends, classmates and relatives and the time to revisit the old yet familiar places we hold dear during those young impressionable years. This is also the time of the year when one gets to enjoy, relax and savor the cool and fresh air Tanauan can offer as opposed to the unequaled pollution here in Manila. Little did I know I was in for a big surprise!

Going home is also the time to know the progress the town has made in the year or so I was gone. As you will know, my house is situated along the stretch of P. Burgos St., in Brgy. San Roque, one which I could say is turning into a commercial thoroughfare. This is one of the busiest streets especially on Market Day when all roads led to the Tanauan Public Market as this is one of those streets one would tread on the way out. For those of you who might be unfamiliar with P. Burgos St., it is that short strip of road just across or next to Tanauan Public market which also traverses to Imelda Avenue or the main town highway. Indeed, few changes can be seen everywhere, to include this commercial area.

A few years ago, P. Burgos St. was an ideally clean road every Tanauaneño is familiar with. All locals, to include the political leaders cannot claim they have not walked nor is familiar with this street as it has long served as the commuter’s road from the public market. Even San Roque’s Brgy. Chairman lives in P. Burgos St! What used to be a clean and passable street is now a little lake of water wastes perennially present 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and emitting a foul smell at that! Now, who can live with that!

Residents in this street do enjoy the best of all worlds the town can offer as it is near everything! It is indeed an ideal place to live. But now, it has turned into hell not only for those living along this street but for everyone passing through this road from the market. It is indeed a daily punishment for Tanauaneños especially for my family and neighbors who get to inhalel and endure this “little smelly lake” everyday. Why is this so? My house happens to be beside the source of this water wastes! As it is, P. Burgos also turns into a terminal on Sundays for tricycles bound for Tabon-Tabon and other outskirt barangays. My street has literally changed its reputation to this “mabaho” street as I hear from those commuters.

And who is the culprit? It is this small 24/7 bakery called Park & Go! strategically located at the corner of P. Burgos St. and Imelda Avenue which constantly release their water wastes directly onto the street. One gets to wake up at wee hours of the morning when the bakery is at its peak discharging their water wastes, that is also, when the foul and pungent smell totally invades the whole area.

As I discovered, complaints have been made by everyone in my street to no avail. Government agencies and our local health authorities attended to it at one or two instances “daw” but no concrete and long-term plan has been made. The thing is, I just cannot comprehend why the local government is still allowing this bakery to operate when it has become a source of pollution for the town for two years or more. I don’t know if some officials have made “business” out of this mess to the detriment of its populace. But then, one can only surmise this is the usual case. Need we say more? In its web portal, Tanauan, Leyte, proudly claims it has for its vision a dynamic and strong community which has attained sustainable economic growth through an effective and responsive local governance, with God-loving, morally upright, healthy and happy families living in a peaceful, orderly and ecologically-balanced environment. Why are they permitting this kind of pollution and menace to happen in the first place? This kind of contamination in a very public area has slowly eaten the souls and the last ounce of pride of my family and the rest of my neighbors. When I was asked where I live and I mentioned I reside in that area near Park & Go!, Lo, and behold, what did I hear? “Ah, an mabaho na kalye. Kaluluoy man niyo.” Now, this is not only our problem. After all, in the long run, it will also reflect the image of the town and the kind of leaders it has. In fact, it has done so! Well, can they not do something about this problem?

I can only say that the only thing that will stop this water wastes from being dumped into the open street is not to allow Park & Go! to operate. No other establishments should be allowed anywhere when it poses hazardous threat to the environment and health risks to the populace no matter how big comfort or financial blessings it may offer. The local government should not issue them any business permit due to health reasons and non-compliance to environmental safety standards or whatever term they may call it. Then and only then can P. Burgos St. breathe freely again and regain back the pride it once had.

Now, I long for the day when I go back to my town come December 2008 when I am not welcomed by the foul smell and water wastes in my precious kingdom called P. Burgos St. If this is still the case, I can only heave and blame those in power to be totally oblivious, blind and unresponsive to the interest and needs of the people. Ah, what’s in a vision and mission?