Hero surfer pays courtesy call on Rody

MANILA, Philippines — For saving an Indonesian opponent from drowning during the surfing competition at the just-concluded 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the Philippines’ Roger Casugay and the rest of the surfing team met with President Duterte on Tuesday at Malacañang.

Journalist were barred from covering the event, but official Malacañang photos showed Duterte mingling with members of the Philippine surfing team that participated in the SEA Games.

The President took pride in the Filipino surfers, particularly Casugay who also reaped praises from Indonesian President Joko Widodo for saving Indonesian surfer Arip Nurhidayat.

Nurhidayat was swept off his surfboard by high waves in the middle of the men’s longboard surfing competition in La Union last Dec. 6. 

Sensing a problem, Casugay rescued his rival, foregoing his chances of winning the surf competition. The two later surfaced on Casugay’s board, riding the waves which elated the onlookers. Due to the accident, the longboard competition was reset.

Many hailed Casugay for having showed true sportsmanship. He went on to win the gold medal in the men’s longboard last Sunday.  

Accompanied by the members of the Philippine surf team, Casugay was commended by the Senate last Tuesday.