The Sun Always Rises in Siargao

Spellbound by Siargao, follow Patsy Zobel and her son Eduardo’s journey on how they ended up calling it “home”.

Almost all travelers who arrive in Siargao, whether called by adventure or days spent lounging under the sun, are immediately spellbound by the island, its sights and flavors, and close-knit community.  This was certainly the case for Patsy Zobel and her son, Eduardo, who now call Siargao “home”.

“The most magical part of the island is the combination of the waves and the people. To begin with, we have world class waves. The amount of waves to be found in Siargao is something that will keep any surfer’s soul in love forever,” Eddie shares.

“On top of this, there is a golden community of people that are both local and from abroad. People have come from all around the world to put their little grain of sand and transform what might have begun as an island and surf community into a family. The perfect pairing of both the waves and this family is something that will make anyone with an open heart and eyes want to find a way to give up any previous life and be a part of Siargao,” he says.

The first time Patsy set foot in Siargao was nearly two decades ago.  At that time, the small, teardrop-shaped island off the coast of northeast Mindanao had only a few resorts without any paved roads nor an airport.

“My brother Jaime was organizing an exploration trip on a boat, and I happened to be in the Philippines, so I happily tagged along,” the Ayala Foundation consultant reminisces.

After seeing the crystal-clear water and beautiful islands in the area, Patsy knew she had to come back. The opportunity to revisit the island came 10 years later when former Philippine Ambassador Rora Navarro-Tolentino asked Patsy to organize a medical mission for communities living on Daku, an island southeast of Siargao.

Planting new roots

“I jumped at the chance to return!  That time, I took my two sons, Eduardo and Toby, and they fell in love with the surfing possibilities of the island,” the adventure-loving Patsy says.

After years of frequent visits, she finally decided to build a home on the island that she and her family have grown to love.  “I am the type of person who will go to great lengths to get off the beaten track.  My kids, on the other hand, like to be where the action is.  Siargao was really perfect for us,” she says.

On the island, she and her family enjoy the best of both worlds – the calm and quiet of the surrounding islands, and the energy and excitement of the bustling General Luna area.

“I made the house a little away from the crowds. My happiness is to go swimming, paddle boarding, and kayaking in the sea. My children, on the other hand, would get their motorbikes and surfboards and rush off to wherever the action was happening.”

Some of Eduardo’s most unforgettable memories were made in Siargao. “A couple of years ago, a massive swell hit the island. The waves were forecasted to be so big even the authorities had prohibited the fishermen and locals from going out.”  Eduardo and his friends, on the other hand, hopped on a speedboat and sailed all the way up the island coast and found massive waves.  “It was both extremely exciting and intimidating at the same time… and the best part? There was no one out surfing, which meant we had the wave, and the session all to ourselves!”

Reflecting on what about Siargao excited him the most, Eduardo quips: “I look forward to the surfers and the people running the island together.  These are the people that boosted an island’s growth and showed the world just how rare and priceless it is, where you can make memories that stay with you for life.”