Riding the waves off Bonuan
by Rahndal Rico
Dagupan City’s Bonuan is making its name as a premier spot in the surfing scene.
At the World’s Bangus Capital, Dagupan is not just a home of rich history and culture but also a place to hone your surfing and skimboarding skills!
Just a jeepney ride from downtown, you’ll arrive at Bonuan Tondaligan and Binloc beaches, and experience the growing surfing and skimboarding industry in the area.
Let’s hear what local surfers and skimboarders have to say about Dagupan becoming a water sports destination.
Dane’s Surf and Brew
@danessurfandbrew
Photo by the Office of Congressman Christopher de Venecia
Established in 2022, Dane’s Surf and Brew offers beginner-friendly surfing lessons alongside its soothing sea-side cafe.
Ar Badon, the founder, shared in an exclusive interview that it all started with his passion for surfing.
“I started surfing around 2012 then yun tuloy-tuloy na. Nung nasubukan kong mag-surf, I fell in love with the surfing na agad eh,” he said.
He revealed that he first started learning to surf in La Union, then bought his first surfboard after discovering the Bonuan Tondaligan Beach.
“Ina-eye ko na talaga dati na mag-pwesto sa Bonuan. After pandemic, nag-start kami as a pop-up coffee lang,” he said.
Photo by the Office of Congressman Christopher de Venecia
The surf-inspired café has attracted locals interested in surfing and those seeking a third space.
“Sobrang lapad ng beach natin. Nakikitaan din namin ng potential, which is tinigtignan namin, pwede siya. In terms naman sa surf lesson, pwedeng pwede talaga siya kasi mababaw lang. Pwede siyang mag-accommodate ng mga [surfing ethusisasts at beginners],” he said.
SurfSide
If you’re looking for another hands-on learning experience, this is your chance to catch your first wave with SurfSide!
Patrick Lopez, one of its instructors, confirms the growing surfing community in the area.
“So far, lumalago na rin ang surf community dito sa Dagupan lalo na ngayon dumadami na mga groms (kid surfers) dito sa amin,” he said.
Lopez shared that while he began surfing in 2018, his passion for it stemmed from another water sport—skimboarding.
“Dati po kasi, skimboarding ang nilalaro rito sa amin hanggang sa nasubukan kong mag-surf kaya ayun, bumili ako ng surfboard,” he said.
Skim Dagupan
Speaking of skimboarding, if you wanna start at the sand and ride smaller waves that break close to the shore, this water sport is for you.
Sergio Menecias, a Dagupeño skimboarder, said that although it is quite similar to surfing, it is usually done in very shallow water.
Photo by Sergio Menecias
“Basically, ang surfing nasa gitna ka na ng dagat—nag-aabang ka na ng alon. Whereas ang skimboarding naman, nags-start ka sa shoreline—attacking the wave kumbaga,” he said.
In 2023, Skim Dagupan held a skimboard competition as part of the Bangus Festival and Dagvibe 2023. Other than Pangasinan, participants came from various provinces like La Union and Zambales.
A year later, they partnered with Galila Arts Festival to launch another skim competition in the city.
“It’s high time na rin na ma-recognize ang Dagupan for surfing and skimboarding…na viable talaga rito sa Dagupan,” said Menecias.
Dagupan Surfing Cooperative
Further empowering the local surfing scene, the Dagupan Surfing Cooperative (DSC) is taking bold steps in partnership with the Department of Tourism and PD4 representative Cong. Christopher “Toff” de Venecia.
Photo by Miguel Vazquez/Dagupan Surf Cooperative
Miguel Vazquez, an artist and surfing hobbyist, told in an exclusive interview that Bonuan’s waves have so much potential.
“There’s a certain magic here in Binloc—it’s really this perfect wave. It’s not what we call the gnarly wave (extremely dangerous)—it’s more like a really fun intermediate wave,” he said.
Photo by Miguel Vazquez/Dagupan Surf Cooperative
Vazquez, who has been surfing for 14 years, saw the need to boost surfing tourism in the city, which led to the formation of DSC.
“Our goal is really to try to help the surfing community and support eco tourism here in the Philippines, specifically in Dagupan,” he said.
He added that DSC is coordinating with the Department of Tourism to certify surfing instructors. Another initiatives include environmental awareness seminars for the locals and free surf camps that is held annually during Pistay Dayat.
Actor and surfing enthusiast Rafael Rosell at Bonuan Binloc beach. Photo by Miguel Vazquez/Dagupan Surf Cooperative
Surfing in Binloc and Pugaro is seasonal for competitors, from October to early January while surfing in Tondaligan is available year-round for learners and beginners.
For inquiries, contact Gid Flores at 0945-849-9388 or send and email to gidflores.expd4@gmail.com.
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