Karen Davila reveals the traumatic experience she and her family had in Siargao while they were having their vacation during Holy Week.
Veteran journalist Karen Davila had an expected wonderful vacation in Siargao, for it was the first time she and her family to be there, but it turned out to be a traumatic experience.
Karen shared a lengthy post on her Facebook Page regarding that dreadful day in the surfing capital of the Philippines.
She said that upon arriving in Siargao, she immediately booked surfing lessons for her two sons, David, the eldest, and Lucas, the youngest.
The Kapamilya news presenter detailed that Lucas was handled by surfing instructor Junrey Taol while David was handled by Jocol Valerio.
When the surfing lessons started, Karen and husband DJ were relaxing on the beach while enjoying the beautiful view and the local vibe.
On the other hand, a shocking intervention interrupted the supposed to be serene atmosphere of their vacation in the island.
Karen Davila said that their eldest son came running to them blooded and his rash guard ripped apart.
What added to the fury of a concerned mother is that the surfing instructor who taught David just ran away after the incident.
“What got me very angry was Jocol Valerio, the trainer – suddenly dissappeared! My husband said after showing him the sari sari store where to buy the Betadine, cotton and gauze, he left them. No one was there to assist my husband or my son who was bleeding! No nurse, no first aid, NO ONE,” the journalis said on her post.
With that traumatic experience in Siargao, Karen Davila shared her major points of concern.
1. I found out anybody who surfs in Siargao can train in Siargao. Some of the trainers are habal habal drivers, who train on the side for extra income. The instructors have no professional certifications. No requirement to be certified. No system of vetting trainers. Anybody with a surf board, who wants to earn P500 an hour can train. Period.
2. There are NO LIFE GUARDS on the beach. NOT ONE. This is crazy. The rising mecca of surfing, with hundreds in the water – and NOT ONE life guard to save tourists from possible drowning or injury.
3. There is NO FIRST AID CLINIC or trained medical personnel at the beach. NONE. Sari-sari stores sell Betadine, alcohol, cotton, gauze, tape – proof that injuries are quite common, with supply meeting demand. Problem is, they are able to sell the first aid meds but essentially don’t know who to assist you. In other words, “bahala ka na sa buhay mo”.
4. The attitude of some instructors on Cloud 9 is, “ay nasugatan”…. and stare at you like it’s absolutely natural. No panic, no rush, just local chit chat like it happens all the time, and it’s not that big a deal. Safety clearly isn’t top priority.
She also shared that she met with the local officials in the island to raise her concern.
https://www.facebook.com/KarenDavilaOfficial/posts/747434288792057