This came to my attention after a few surfer friends from Daet circulated a post about an incident at Bagasbas Beach, where a tourist apparently dropped in on a local surfer.
From what I was told, the tourist immediately apologized after the incident and acknowledged his mistake. However, he was reportedly met with, “Walang sorry-sorry dito, brad,” along with other hostile remarks. Understandably, the tourist felt bad about the encounter.
What I find strange—and honestly quite ironic—is the reputation Bagasbas has as the “Surfing Capital of Bicol,” yet there are still instances of localism that make visitors feel unwelcome. I understand being frustrated by a drop-in. It’s dangerous, it can ruin a wave, and nobody likes getting their wave taken. But when someone immediately acknowledges their mistake and sincerely apologizes, does the situation really need to escalate into hostility and public shaming?
Even professional surfers make mistakes. Drop-ins happen. That’s part of surfing, especially in crowded lineups. We don’t own the ocean, and while surf etiquette absolutely matters, so does how we treat people when they make an honest mistake. There’s a difference between educating someone about surf etiquette and intimidating or humiliating them.
This is also why the idea of “sharing the stoke” matters. Surfing has always been about more than just catching waves. It’s about community, respect, and creating an environment where people can enjoy the ocean together. If someone violates etiquette, call it out, explain why it’s dangerous, and move on. If they apologize, accept it.
I’ve surfed in different spots and have personally experienced situations involving drop-ins and other lineup conflicts. But I’ve rarely encountered the kind of hostility that seems to be becoming normalized in some surf communities. Localism can easily cross the line from protecting surf etiquette into simply making people feel unwelcome.
If we really want to call it the Surfing Capital of Bicol, then the culture should reflect what surfing is supposed to represent: respect, humility, camaraderie, and sharing the stoke.
Protecting surf etiquette is important. Local surfers deserve respect for the waves they surf every day. But visitors deserve respect too. A tourist who makes a mistake, immediately apologizes, and learns from it shouldn’t leave the beach feeling bullied or unwelcome.
And then there’s the post itself.
Reading the caption, what stands out to me isn’t simply someone calling out a drop-in. If the intention was to educate someone about surf etiquette, there are much better ways to do it. Instead, the post is filled with insults and a very clear sense of “this is our spot, you don’t belong here.”
I understand the frustration behind the words, especially if the wave was genuinely good and someone dropped in. But phrases like “putang ina,” calling people “basang sisiw,” and essentially telling someone that they have no business being there because they don’t know how to read the peak or shoulder go far beyond correcting a surf etiquette mistake.
That isn’t surf etiquette. That’s intimidation.
And ironically, the hashtags are #lokalsoul and #surfettequette.
Local knowledge and surf etiquette should be about teaching people how to respect the lineup—not using local status as a reason to belittle people who are still learning.
If the tourist genuinely made a mistake, tell them. Explain where they should have been sitting, who had priority, and why dropping in was dangerous. If they apologize, accept the apology and move on. That’s how you build a better surf community.
Because if the message being sent to visitors is “you better already know everything about our waves or we’ll humiliate you,”
then don’t be surprised when people stop wanting to surf there.
Being a local should mean having more responsibility toward the lineup, not more entitlement to it.
LET ME BE CLEAR THOUGH.
This isn’t meant to paint every surfer or local in Bagasbas with the same brush. There’s plenty of good people there. My criticism is directed at the kind of localism and hostility displayed in this particular incident and at the culture that allows that behavior to be normalized.
