Siargao: Where waves become memories
Do you remember the first time you held a surfboard?
Perhaps it began on a summer day, when the sun was warm and bright, the sea called you, and you took your first lesson, chasing the waves.
And now, you find yourself seeking the ocean in different places, following the rhythm of the tides and the promise of another beautiful ride. Water has a way of bringing us back to our memories. Through great dives, a midnight swim or a soul-reviving surf, it etches memories into our hearts that stay long after the waves have settled.
Every summer, our favorite surfing spot, Siargao Island, first comes to mind. It offers the best waves, lagoons and beautiful sunsets. Its luxurious hotels and dining options have grown to cater to the demand of visitors, and it now has many interesting places to relax, attracting tourists from many countries around the world. In 2019, it was awarded the title of “The Best Island in Asia” by Condé Nast Traveler. It became one of the “Top Islands in Asia” according to the magazine in 2025. Siargao also appeared on Time magazine’s list of “The 100 Great Places in the World.”
Still, it is important to emphasize that the island itself and the hospitality of its people are more valuable than all the titles combined. Here, warm smiles cheer people up, despite everything. Siargao was once a surfer’s secret, where we collected memories filled with powerful waves, coconut palms swaying, pristine beaches and simple village life.
This was the perfect recipe to fall in love with an island, a love that cannot be easily broken. For so many surfers around the world, from beginners to real surfers, surfing is more than a hobby. It is as if your body is finally connected to the sea, when you learn how to move with the rhythm of nature. Somehow, surfing with the tide and waves lifts your entire being into submission to the current.
Surfing is a spiritual journey to those who have learned to master it. To many, it is an answered prayer and a profound lesson that the best things in life don’t need to cost that much. In surfing, you just need a surfboard and a precious wave—and an unwavering heart to brace the towering surge.
Today, Siargao has changed dramatically, yet somehow its soul and vibe remain. It is still a famous place for its waves, but there is so much more to discover beyond the surf.
Among Siargao’s boutique resorts, Sunyata stands out. Founded by my dear friends, Ms. Earth protégée Khatrina Martinez and renowned businessman and DJ Tsubasa Enatsu, Sunyata is a beautiful boutique resort that captures the essence of tropical living with an elegant and intimate touch.
These elegant suites are postcard-perfect and guarantee tranquility for all guests looking for a respite after a day filled with surfing, island hopping or anything else related to enjoying Siargao’s beauty. There is a bit of understated luxury one can find here—luxury that never suppresses nature, but rather takes center stage.
Khatrina shared that Sagana restaurant features regional Filipino cuisine that combines familiar tastes of Filipino food in a creative and modern way. It also has a venue where good food and good company come together perfectly with a leisurely pace of life.
Here, in the paradise of Siargao, we chose to celebrate the birthdays of Mark and Sam Dayrit, accompanied by the warmth of our family. We dined, talked and laughed together, creating unforgettable moments we were sure to remember long after we left.
It was not just a birthday party but a gathering of people we love the most in this magnificent place, created for these rare moments.
There are places we go to, and there are places that become part of us. Siargao is one of those places—where the sun seems to set slowly, stretching time to surf a bit more; where warm people whose smiles can be seen with their eyes welcome you; and where natural beauty remains unmatched.
In this tropical paradise, unforgettable moments become cherished memories and stories we carry in our hearts forever.
For information about Sunyata Siargao, call or message +63 956 926 8051, or send a message on Instagram @sunyataresort.
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