SIARGAO, Philippines — Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio believes hosting the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour at Cloud 9 is a major breakthrough for Philippine sports, opening the door for Filipino surfers to compete on the world stage. Gregorio described the competition as one of the biggest events in international surfing, even comparing its stature to the premier tournaments in other sports.       “If you talk about the NBA, this is like the NBA Finals. If you talk about Formula One, this is like Formula One. This is the French Open of surfing,” Gregorio said.       The Philippines Pro presented by the PSC was the 11th stop of the Championship Tour, bringing some of the world's best surfers to Siargao before the circuit heads to Hawaii for its season finale.       For Gregorio, however, the significance of the event goes beyond the international attention it brings to the island. He sees it as an opportunity to develop local talent and give Filipino surfers a chance to measure themselves against the world's elite.        Among those benefiting from the opportunity is 15-year-old Mara Lopez of La Union, who received a wildcard entry to compete against established international stars.        Gregorio pointed to the US$13,000 prize money available to eliminated surfers as an example of the opportunities that international competition can provide.        He contrasted this with the roughly P80,000 prize money at national-level competitions, highlighting the difference in the financial rewards available to athletes competing on the global stage.       “These are world-class surfers who have never been given a chance to perform on the world stage,” he said.       Gregorio credited the Philippine government, headed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Vinny Marcos, Surigao del Norte officials, local government units and WSL executives for helping bring the competition to Siargao.       He also thanked WSL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Stark for trusting the Philippines with the prestigious event, noting that Siargao had attracted the attention of WSL officials for around 30 years.       The PSC chairman hopes the tournament will encourage other surfing communities across the country to pursue similar opportunities.       While Siargao has established itself as a major surfing destination, Gregorio believes other Philippine islands also have the potential to host international competitions.        Realizing that ambition, he said, will require cooperation among national agencies and local governments, along with improved access and support for communities looking to develop their surfing programs.         The WSL's different competition levels, from the Qualifying Series and Challenger Series to the Championship Tour, also provide possible pathways for Filipino athletes to gain experience and work their way toward the sport's highest level.     Gregorio stressed that hosting an event of this scale should not be measured solely by the competition itself. Its lasting value, he said, lies in the opportunities it creates for young athletes and the growth it can bring to Philippine sports.        “Hosting is an enabler. It is an enabler to do bigger things for the country. It is an enabler for the youth to pick up the sport,” Gregorio said.        He maintained that international sporting events should be viewed as an investment rather than simply a government expense, particularly when they help promote tourism, support local communities and encourage young Filipinos to take up sports.         For Gregorio, the Siargao stop provides a chance to build on the country's natural advantages and strengthen its position as a destination for international sporting events.         Gregorio hopes the competition will leave a lasting mark beyond the waves of Cloud 9, giving Filipino surfers greater opportunities to compete internationally while encouraging other communities to invest in the sport. TMT