Queen of WAVES

Elaine Abonal is conquering not just the vast waters of Siargao, but also her roles as a mother, businesswoman, and advocate

- MARIAN SAN PEDRO

When she was studying abroad in the United States as an exchange student, Elaine Abonal found herself in one of the country's biggest surfing cities-Florida. That was in 2002, and she had no idea what surfing truly was. Then, she went back to the Philippines, and began researching where she could try out the sport. Eventually, she found La Union, and the fast waves became her newfound home.

Abonal then began visiting all the surfing spots in the Philippines: Baler, Catanduanes, Lanuza. But in 2005, Siargao took a permanent place in her heart.

"Back then, I would go as a tourist because there was really nothing-only good surfers who knew what they were doing," she shares.

During that time, Abonal had started building her company, Surfista Travels, which offers surf camps, tours, and merchandise, among others. She would keep going back to Siargao, but could only spend a month or two there as she was a student then.

Seven years ago, she finally made the decision to stay in Siargao.

"The next thing I knew, half the year I was already in Siargao," says Abonal. "Then I moved my things, met my husband in Bali, and now we're building a house."

SURFISTA TRAVELS

Surfista Travels began when surfing was still an unfamiliar concept to many Filipinos and Filipinas. Abonal wanted to create a community where people could learn about the sport-especially women.

"Before, surfing was a male-dominated sport," Abonal explains. "I wanted to promote surfing for girls, especially Filipinas. There are changes during the pandemic and after Typhoon Odette, and with the island being more popular after the movie [named after it]. Now, we would do surf lessons and camps for kids. It has grown with me as a person, as well as with surfing in the Philippines."