07/02/2026
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๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฐ: "๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ" ๐๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐
๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐
ALIMANGUAN, SAN VICENTE, PALAWAN โ While the elite national and international fields have been commanding the spotlight during the San Vic Surf Fest 2026 (running from Jan 27 to Feb 8), a special side event shifted the focus to the grassroots of the sport. The "Grom Revival" took center stage at Alimanguan Beach, providing a professional competitive platform for the youngest surfers in the archipelago.
๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐
๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Designed specifically for athletes aged 13 and below, the Grom Revival serves a purpose far beyond the podium. The objective of the competition is to immerse young surfers in the atmosphere of a professional event, teaching them the essential pillars of competitive surfing: heat etiquette, professional conduct, scoring criteria, and water safety.
A total of 24 eager "groms" from surfing strongholds including Palawan, La Union, and Siargao traveled to the worldโs #1 island to participate. Among them was the eventโs youngest competitor, 5-year-old Koa Alipayo, the son of Siargao surfing legend Philmar Alipayo and actress Andi Eigenmann.
๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ก๐ฌ
The competition saw high-level progression across all age brackets. Local Palawan grom Kelvin Labanancia delivered a standout performance to claim the title in the Boys Division, showcasing the rising talent pool in the San Vicente region.
In a display of pure commitment, Ocean Oida was honored with a special "Charger of the Year" award. Ocean stunned the beach by successfully paddling into one of the largest waves of the day, earning the respect of both the judges and the senior pros on hand.
The "Push-In" divisions, designed for the youngest competitors to gain confidence in the lineup, proved to be a festival highlight:
Boys Push-In Champion: Prince Angelo Ollodo
Girls Push-In Champion: Lilo Alipayo
"This is the most important division," remarked Luke Landrigan, a Philippine surf pioneer and father to competitor Luna Landrigan. Landrigan emphasized that these early experiences are the bedrock of a long-term career in the water.
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For Siargaoโs Philmar Alipayo, seeing his children, Lilo and Koa, compete in a structured environment was a significant milestone. "It's so fun. It's one of my dreams to have my kids join surf competitions in the future," Alipayo shared. "It's really important for the young kids so that we can push them forward and motivate them to surf."
The success of the Grom Revival underscores the San Vic Surf Festโs commitment to the longevity of the sport in the Philippines, ensuring that as Palawan grows as a global destination, its local athletes are prepared to lead the charge.
For more updates and highlights from the San Vic Surf Fest, follow .
