Edgar Calvo, Jr. went on attack mode early to clinch the championship in the men’s longboard division of the Surf in the City: The 4th Visayas Surfing Cup at the Baybay Beach in Borongan City yesterday, Dec. 29.
Calvo dished out his two best rides in just his first three attempts to punch in the title-clinching 10.17 points then held on to fashion out the runaway triumph.
Abel Bejar was a far second with his 5.74 aggregate while Anthony Richard Obina collected 5.63 to secure the bronze. Brgy. Sabang North’s Oliver Esplago netted 5.53 for fourth.
“‘Yun ‘yung strategy ko. From the start palang, push ko na po. Medyo mahirap po ‘yung alon kasi malakas po ‘yung hangin. Naghintay ako ng alon and then pinush ko talaga. Kahit anong mangyari, tuloy,” said Calvo of Brgy. Sabang South.
“Sobrang thankful and grateful kasi natuloy ‘yung local competition. Sobrang saya po namin. Ang saya ko po.”
As the 19-year-old ace treads his path in longboarding, he revealed that he looks up to World No. 8 longboard surfer Jay-R Esquivel and tries to emulate the La Union pride in his quest to also make it big and play in the World Surf League (WSL) in the future just like his idol.
“‘Yung idol ko po sa surfing, si Jay-R Esquivel. Noong nag-start palang akong mag-surfing, si Kuya Jay-R na ‘yung nakita kong gusto kong gayahin,” said Calvo.
“Marami po silang idol ko. ‘Yung Philippine team, mga idol ko,” he added.
The members of the national team this year are Esquivel and Jomarie Ebueza for men’s longboard, 2023 World Surf League Challenger Series qualifier Marama Tokong and Noah Arkfeld for men’s shortboard, two-time Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Daisy Valdez and Aping Agudo for women’s longboard, and Vea Estrellado and Nilbie Blancada for women’s shortboard.
Calvo learned surfing on his own as he borrowed a board from his friends. He first ventured into another board sport, skimboarding, before pursuing surfing when he was able to buy a secondhand shortboard for P1000.
As the longboards are more expensive, he stuck with his shortboard until he became a member of and was funded by the local surf team, the Surfriders Club of Eastern Samar, about two years ago, allowing him to switch to longboarding.
He competed in the category in the legs of the Pilipinas Surfing National Tour from there, seeing action here in Borongan and in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur last year and in Calicoan, Guiuan and Baler, Aurora this year.
He also proved his mettle in invitational tournaments, winning the gold in the Legal Logging surfing event in Allen, Northern Samar in November 2022 before making it to the Top 16 in the Single and Unattached competition in San Juan, La Union last February.
Calvo bared that he does not see a career for himself outside surfing. In fact, the sport inspired him in choosing his college course at the Eastern Samar State University – Bachelor of Science in Fisheries.
“Connected sa dagat kaya ‘yun ‘yung kinuha ko,” shared the freshman student, chuckling.
With his heart set on building a career in the sport, Calvo will strive to make it to the national team and display his skills in the international stage.
“Ito (surfing) na po ‘yung pangarap ko,” said Calvo.
“‘Yung pangarap ko po sa buhay, maging [member ng] Philippine team po. Tapos sumali sa WSL and makilala po ‘yung pangalan ko,” he added.
#FunBorongan
