Exactly three hours away from Davao, one can reach the 17-km basin-like white sand shoreline of Menzi Beach Park, Dahican, Mati City. A team of surf and skim boarders widely known as the Amihan Boys founded by a 38-year old man, Mr. George “Jun” Plaza a natural-born of Dahican locally known as ‘Botchok’, the coach and mentor of the team started to form the circle with six guys from ages eight to 25 whom he got to passed by noticing doing almost nothing every day. And with his unstoppable kindness, ‘Kuya Jun’ as how the members would call him, introduced surf and skim boarding to the six. And presently, he does not only teach them the sports they are into right now, rather he also trains and educates the boys how to conserve and protect the nature, how to regularly take good care of the coastline and even the sea creatures such as newly-hatched turtles, baby dolphins and butandings (whales) residing in their area, and how to happily survive life. This is how everything multiplied.

Every single day, right after the dawn breaks, the boys are all set to clean the coastline and the seashore of the park. After accomplishing their early morning task, they are free to rove around and play, allowing the boys to frolic and enjoy with the enormous waves and persevering airstreams acting as their playmates every time one will take a leap and strongly stand across their board. Vices are a big issue for them, specifically the use of prohibited drugs and alcoholic drinks. If one would like to stay in the team – STRICLY NO VICES (in any forms) ALLOWED. As Rodel Palawi, well-known in his tag “Panggoy”, the frontrunner of the team would say, “Sa tanan tao na pwede nako mapasalamatan, kay Kuya Jun ko pinakamapasalamaton – gimahal mi niya sama sa iyang pamilya, kanunay mi niya ginahatagan ug pagtagad og importansya. (To all the people behind Amihan Boys, I am most thankful to Kuya Jun – he loves us as if we are his family, he always gives time and offers compassion to all of us AftMenzi Beach Reoture, how to take good care of the beach and how to urvive life.).

He was hailed champion on the most recent skim boarding tournament last February, bringing home the bacon all the way from the Island of Siargao.

This may be an appalling news for all those people who have been admiring him but as what he asserted, “Ang disiplina na among natun-an sa Kuya Jun kay dili mabayran. Nagapasalamat gyud ko kay iyaha mi’ng nakita ug gitudloan aning pag-skim, karon ma-apply na nako siya og makatabang pa ko sa akong pamilya.” (The discipline we learned from Kuya Jun is just priceless. I am grateful because he found and trained us how to skim, Now, I could apply my skills for real and somehow help my family).

Nevertheless, Kuya Jun serves not just as the father of the team, but also a friend and a mentor to all of them most especially in stage of challenges and difficulties. Botchok assures them that he will always be there for the team through thick and thin. “Ako gihapong ipadayon ang pagtudlo sa ila sa bisag wala’y maako, dili lang man ni kwartahay o sa daghan ka og makaila kay sikat ka kini kay mas labaw pa, ang imong kagustuhan nga mutabang na makuha sa mga bata ilang mga pangarap dakong bili na na siya og dakong kalipay para sa akoa. Bisan medyo edaran na pirminti gihapon ko sa ilang kiliran magabantay.” (I will continue to teach them with all my heart, this was not just about the profession or gaining anything (like money) but the passion to help those children who have great potentials is a dream come true. Even, if I did age I could still be there for them, no matter what).

Mati City Mayor Carlo Luis P. Rabat proudly announces his awe, “The Amihan Boys initiated every creative advocacies found in Dahican. I am so honored having the team and in the same manner, I humbly admire their efforts in making Dahican not just a place for tourists but also an avenue for possible economic and lucrative activities”. The Menzi Beach Park now ventures opportunity in learning the basic paces in surf and skim boarding for the tourists at any time of the day. The team is surely a tap away. 

“Indeed, Dahican is no longer your usual beach park to visit. Hand in hand with Task Force Dahican, together with the Amihan Boys, I truly believe that through their voluntary advocacies, the City of Mati will further foster not only owing to the amusement the site offers, but also the sustenance and livelihood that every individual in the locale imparts”, Mayor Rabat accentuated.

“To follow the rules and nothing more.” – This is how Panggoy briefly summed up his learnedness within ten years of his continuing ride with the team. As of April 2004, the Amihan Boysincludes not less than a hundred fellows from ages three to 36 years of age. With its numerous awards and various recognitions in and outside the city, they are renowned and acknowledged as the official surfers and skimmers’ team in Davao Oriental. 

This article authored by Victoria Nollora and Danica Bacalango was first published in Excalibur, the magazine edition of Crossroads.