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Meet Lynn and Sunkat, Filipina american surfers who grew up in both the states and the islands of the Philippines. In 2008 they began to bring donated surfboards and equipment back to remote island destinations, where surfing was usually only done by foreigners passing through.
By donating recycled equipment to the local kids, and incentivizing them to pursue education, they've empowered locals to find ownership in the growing surf scene in the Philippines. Through their non-profit organization "Balik Bayod" meaning "Returning wave" they have been supporting filipinos with donated surfboards since 2008.
In this episode we'll explore the complexities and beauty of surfing in the Philippines, including the influence of foreigners and the importance of preserving local communities. As co-founders of Balik Bayod Returning Wave, Sunkat and Lynn share their stories of connecting with their Filipino heritage and empowering the local surf scene.
We'll discuss the challenges faced by the Filipino surfing community, like limited government support and the need to foster a thriving local surf economy. They underline the significance of supporting Filipino businesses globally and how doing so can reshape cultural perceptions, especially concerning the embodied experience of being dark-skinned within the outdoor community.
You're invited to join the conversation, contribute to sustainable surf practices, and even participate in equipment donations. This episode not only encapsulates the spirit of surfing but also the power of unity and cultural connections within our global community.
Main Themes:
- Inclusion in Surf Culture: [30:04] "I always feel like, as a Filipino American, we've been battling with inclusion in the surf community, but that's actually our home. So to be excluded from a sport that's in your home is kind of crazy, but to be someone that's going to come and bring the resources so local people can be a part of not even just the surfing and surf culture and create their own surf culture." — Laura Day
- Supporting Filipino Surfers Globally: [37:07] "I think, like, when you meet another filipino surfer, it's always exciting. And you know that we have traveled, you know, that we have intermingled with different cultures, but there's that happy bond that happens around surfing, I think, because it's all about getting stoked when you catch a wave and basically, yeah, that feeling of being part of a community like that and for sustainability." — Lynn
- Surfing Culture in the Philippines [46:49] : "My experience and I think Lynn's, is that the kids we surf with are like, clapping when we catch a wave. You know, I'm not a very good surfer, but I never really experienced that anywhere else. I think that's a special thing about Philippines, is kind of this sharing culture." — Sunkat
Resources:
- Follow us your host Laura Day: @confessionsofasurflady
- Follow The Surf Société: @surfsociete for surf lady tips from #thesurflab inside the membership
- Follow Returning Wave on Instagram: @returningwave
- Visit Returningwave.org
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