“Stay Clean” was the theme of a free windsurfing clinic for Dumaguete youth held at the Rizal Blvd. last weekend, Dec. 11-12.{{more}}
The clinic gathered youth from Dumaguete at the Dumaguete Press Club and offered an opportunity to try and learn windsurfing and stand up paddling with an emphasis on staying clean.
“This event is all about staying clean,” said Reynald Dote, one of the organizers of the event. “The experience of physical fun without drugs or mind altering substances is keeping the body clean and using only the wind to power the windsurfer is keeping the environment clean, these are lessons so important to the youth today.”
The two-day event began with an orientation to the techniques and skills of windsurfing and stand up paddling provided by Starboards Philippines, who co-sponsored the event with One350, an alliance of environmental advocates in Oriental Negros.
Starboards Philippines provided the equipment to give the youth the rare opportunity to experience windsurfing and stand up paddling. “We are a company hoping to sell a product”, said Jojo Jareno of Starboards Philippines, “but at the same time, we are a company with a conscience to promote a Philippines where our youth are healthy and their environment is sustainable, this is more important than selling one or two boards”.
Everyone had fun on the beach beside the Dumaguete Press Club where all were given the chance to work on the practical skills of windsurfing and paddling.
“This is amazing,”said Ann Cale, participant and member of Oriental Negros Mountaineering Council. “This is a sport that is not available here and now here we are trying it in Dumaguete.”
The day also presented a stark reality that all is not right on the Boulevard. “The smell in the water made me feel like I was swimming in a septic tank,” exclaimed volunteer windsurf instructor Cobbie Palm. “We have good people running this City; we will push them to produce a good campaign on cleaning up Dumaguete and helping the youth ‘stay clean’.”
A culminating highlight was a closing program at Hayahay where pictures of the day and stories of the experiences where shared and presented.
“This is a breakthrough in environmental advocacy,” said Zephanie Danieles, coordinator of One350, in her closing remarks. “Joining hands with Starboards Philippines has provided us the opportunity to take the advocacy “Stay Clean” to the youth with windsurfers, paddle board instructors, all promoting clean fun, clean living, and a clean world.”