Siargao Love Stories: Recent Episodes
Siargao Love Stories
A small, tear-shaped island in the Philippines, Siargao is brimming with beautiful souls, beautiful stories of people just living, thriving and surviving. In this podcast, each guest takes us on their personal journey, as we explore ALL the different types of love and its nuances, unique to island surf life — and we go deep. We’re so excited to share these conversations with you. Thanks so much for tuning in.
Stay connected! Follow us at @siargaolovestories on Instagram.
A huge thank you to Free the Robots for the intro/outro music.
Support the podcast! patreon.com/siargaolovestories
It’s our last episode of Season 3, and there’s only one word to describe it: Goosebumps.
In this very special episode, we headed to Burgos for a beachside chat with Michelle Villarosa, founder of Kolekbibo, a vegetarian restaurant but also a social enterprise and registered NGO dedicated towards supporting the wellness needs of local communities north of Siargao.
As a fellow Filipino-Canadian, we connected in so many ways in this conversation, as we both were raised in North America and decided to come back to the Philippines in our adult years to rediscover our own identities, reconnect with our culture and explore our own ancestral roots. We talk about what it’s like straddling between those two cultures and that “in-between” space we’ve been navigating throughout our whole lives — and still navigating through to this day.
Michelle is also an energy healer. She shares a bit about her work, what she does, what she sees and feels — she’s truly so gifted.. We also talk about the magic and mysticism of Siargao and why it’s connected with so many people in the deepest way possible.
Lastly, we talk about the power of community and how we as humans and as people living and thriving in Siargao have the responsibility to create the paradise we want through service, giving back and creating spaces for joy to be present.
Follow Michelle on Instagram: @chellearosa
Follow Kolekbibo on Instagram: @kolekbibo
Tell us what you think! Comment on the Q&A below or DM us on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify show page and giving us a star rating.
New Siargao Love Stories merch available now! DM us on Instagram here to order.
Coming fresh off of the big fight night event at Harana the weekend prior, we chat with Kian Fantonial, main coach and trainer at the longest standing gym here in Siargao, SOS Gym.
Fun fact about Kian for those of you who know him: he was actually training to become a policeman before he became a trainer at SOS.
In this episode, we first talk about the fight night event at Harana that he organized along with his team — the logistics of it, how it all came together and how it brought the whole island community together. Then we get a glimpse into Kian’s life — his police training and his decision to leave the profession, his martial arts training as a kid and his motivation behind it, and the focus, discipline and camaraderie it taught him as an adult. We also hear about the experiences he had holding down the fort at SOS through some of the hardest times of the island — through the pandemic and then through the typhoon. It’s really such a huge testament to the resilience and strength of the island and the community of Siargao.
Follow Kian on Instagram: @the.flow_mt
Follow SOS Gym on Instagram: @sos.island
Tell us what you think! Comment on the Q&A below or DM us on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify show page and giving us a star rating.
New Siargao Love Stories merch available now! DM us on Instagram here to order.
Dating in Siargao. Where to even begin? As if dating in the modern age isn’t already tough enough as it is, Siargao makes it even trickier.
As a tourist town, people are always in and out of the island, visiting from all over the world and always on vacation mode. On top of that, it’s a surfer town, so of course you have all the cute surfers and equally cute girls ready to meet new people and experience new things. They all have that casual, “let’s just have fun” mentality, leaving a sea of broken hearts and disappointment, especially when there’s high hopes and expectations involved.
In this episode, we chat with Sofia De Leon — a talented singer and performer here in Siargao, among other things including project manager of local NGO Project Paradise Community. We get right into it and talk about the dating scene on the island. Sofia describes dating in Siargao as the “dating Olympics” — but after 4 years of being single, and most recently after coming back from an eye-opening solo trip to Thailand, Sofia has a new mindset, a new formula for dating in Siargao, which she’d like to share. It’s the exact mindset that’s needed to date in a transient island like Siargao, while keeping your integrity — maybe even your sanity.
Follow Sofia De Leon on Instagram: @___spooky.moon
Tell us what you think! Comment on the Q&A below or DM us on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify show page and giving us a star rating.
New Siargao Love Stories merch available now! DM us on Instagram here to order.
If you haven’t heard of these guys from Manila-based rock band, La Crema, you’re in for a treat. They’ve been coming back and forth to Siargao for the past 5 years to play their brand of psychedelic tropical surf rock for the hungry island crowd.
We sat down with lead singer and guitarist Lucas Floyd, bassist Enrique “EK” Santamaria and drummer Alex Price during the week of their big Siargao tour to chat about the origins of La Crema, their music process on stage and in the studio, the power of creating art and music and, of course, the magic of Siargao.
I love when bands and artists like these come to Siargao to spread their love and passion for music, their energy and their authentic weirdness to the island. Hope you get inspired from this chat to just be brave, be true to yourself and create whatever fuels your soul.
Follow La Crema on Instagram: @lacremamnl
Tell us what you think! Follow and DM us on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify and giving us a star rating.
New Siargao Love Stories merch available now! DM us on Instagram here to order.
There’s no better way to kick off this spring season of surf than having Mikhail ‘King’ Villanueva on the podcast. Those of you who’ve seen him around may recognize his big, beautiful smile on the waves, especially at his favourite spot, Pesangan. There’s grace to his style. A calmness. Humbleness. Just pure ease when he takes off, and then when he’s on the wave, gliding up and down the line, there’s nothing but pure joy beaming from him.
In this episode, we talk about all things surf — how King started surfing in the first place, his very first wave in Siargao close to 8 years ago, his favourite surfboards to ride, the types of waves he loves and the other local surfers in Siargao he admires. But we also get into King’s surf mentality and his philosophy when it comes to surfing, the gratitude he feels every time he’s in the water and how it’s just all about sharing the stoke.
Follow King on Instagram: @kingyoh
Tell us what you think! Follow and DM us on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify and giving us a star rating.
New Siargao Love Stories merch available now! DM us on Instagram here to order.
We can’t go through another season of Siargao Love Stories without talking about breakups. After all, Siargao is the place you run to after you get your heart broken.
In this episode, we chat with Mariz Rovira, manager of the newest and busiest bar in Siargao right now, Barbosa. In this conversation, Mariz shares one of those breakup stories that lingers with you. The type of breakup you’ll need to listen to Adele’s "Someone Like You" on repeat in bed, sobbing with a bottle of wine. The kind of stuff you hear from R&B love songs and Filipino movies. No spoilers — just follow the story and see for yourself.
Although this episode is about grief and healing from heartbreak — one of the heaviest topics we’ve had on this podcast — it was actually one of the funniest and most fun episodes, just because Mariz’s personality is unlike any other. There were times I had to contain myself from laughing at her jokes, the facial expressions she would make and her mannerisms. Other times, I just wanted to cry, talking about the pain of grief, the internal struggles of love, the tough decisions, the what-ifs and the heartache. But I guess it’s true what they say — that joy and sorrow really do go hand in hand.
Follow Mariz Rovira on Instagram: @bbgrlmarmar
Follow Barbosa on Instagram: @barbosa_siargao
Tell us what you think! Follow and DM us on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify and giving us a star rating.
New Siargao Love Stories merch available now! DM us on Instagram here to order.
Those who visit or live in Siargao all know Andi Eigenmann, the actress turned island girl and now co-owner, along with her local pro-surfer husband Philmar Alipayo, of the Happy Islanders Surf Club right by Cloud 9. Like many people, we knew her name and her story from the media — before we actually really knew who she was as a person.
Born into the spotlight, Andi came from a family of famous Filipino actors and actresses — so it was only natural that she became one herself. From the time she was 15, she already gained celebrity status appearing in a number of television shows and films. Everything she did became a news headline — to this day, even a family beach day would make it to the national news network.
In this episode, we go deep, asking the tough questions and getting to the heart of Andi as Andi — not the version we perceive or read from the papers or online. We get to know who she truly is, how she’s evolved, what she thinks and dreams about, and even the qualities she likes about herself.
As Andi reflects on her acting days in the past, you could almost see that younger version of Andi navigating through life, finding her own identity, trying to understand what was missing or what she wanted at the time. At the root of it, each and every one of us, no matter what our status is, how we grew up or even how much money we make — we’re all just trying to figure it out and find what gives us purpose and contentment.
Follow Andi Eigenmann on Instagram: @andieigengirl
Follow Happy Islanders Surf Club on Instagram: @happyislanders.surfclub
Tell us what you think! Follow and DM us on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify and giving us a star rating.
New Siargao Love Stories merch available now! DM us on Instagram here to order.
We are halfway through the season, and I wanted to take a step back and share some of the insights and learnings from the past few weeks since we launched Season 3.
After 8 conversations, 8 episodes, from a range of different people here on the island about a range of topics, here are 7 things I’ve learned or been thinking about this season so far. You can call it realizations, revelations, learnings, insights. For me personally, I think it’s always good to reflect on the themes and thoughts from our past guests and conversations.
Let us know if any of these points resonate with you by commenting on our Spotify Q&A below or DMing us on Instagram at @siargaolovestories — we'd love to hear from you!
In this episode, we talk about something that many women have experienced and perhaps are still experiencing — we’re talking about toxic relationships with a narcissist.
Megara “Megs” McIntyre is the owner of plant-powered cafe and cacao bar, Soul Shack, and co-founder of Untamed, the ecstatic dance experience here in Siargao.
We get right into the topic, as Megs describes being in a relationship with a textbook narcissistic person as being in a spell. She takes us deep into the relationship from the beginning, from the lovebombing to the devaluing and gaslighting, to the constant cycle of leaving him and coming back, and finally to self-realization and healing, eventually breaking from this toxic pattern.
We also break down some of these terms and dive into some research and insights from Dr. Ramani Durvasula, clinical psychologist and renowned expert on narcissism.
So many lessons to learn from this — it’s really such an inspiring story of a woman losing herself and then finding herself again through the power of self-love and women’s intuition.
Follow Megs on Instagram: @megara.medicina
Follow Soul Shack on Instagram: @soulshack.siargao
Tell us what you think! Follow and DM us on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify and giving us a star rating.
Be in the know! Join the Siargao Love Stories Newsletter here.
You may know Tim Paddon as the owner of the longest standing surf shop in Siargao, Fat Lips. You may have heard him commentate at one of the surf competitions or just seen him around. But if you don’t know him, you’ll recognize his voice — he is definitely a big personality on this island.
We go in deep in this episode, as we talk about men in relationships, learning to love properly, the willingness to change and the willingness to learn about yourself to evolve into the person you want to be.
A bulk of the conversation, we go through the book 8 Rules of Love: How to Find It, Keep It, and Let It Go by Jay Shetty, and we talk about the rules that resonated with each of us and how we can apply it to our relationships and daily lives in general.
Tim has such a newfound awareness and a new glow to him, physically and mentally, after making these personal changes in his life. But the essence of him — his hilarity, his unfiltered answers, his honesty, his big personality — it’s all still there. It’s a must-listen for men especially who want to make some sort of change, but just don’t know where to start.
Follow Tim on Instagram: @timinsiargao
Follow Fat Lips on Instagram: @fatlips_surfshop
Tell us what you think! Follow and DM us on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify and giving us a star rating.
Be in the know! Join the Siargao Love Stories Newsletter here.
A timely and beautiful conversation to mark the beginning of International Women’s Month — in this episode, we chat with Peachy Judilla who runs Shanti Shanty, a bakery, cafe and thriving community space in Siargao.
Peachy shares her own personal journey into motherhood, and we follow along her story from start to present day — from meeting her partner, discovering she was pregnant, navigating through that pregnancy and her birthing experience to raising a baby on the island and now a toddler.
We also discuss everything from the history of women as witches, mystics and healers to the divine feminine and our connection to Mother Earth.
It’s a deep conversation, not just for or about mothers or aspiring mamas-to-be — but it’s about the incredible, sometimes inexplicable, power women have if we harness and understand our own innate tools and cultivate our intuition.
Follow Peachy on Instagram: @ma.matahari
Follow Shanti Shanty on Instagram: @om.shantishanty
Tell us what you think! Follow and DM us on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify and giving us a star rating.
Be in the know! Join the Siargao Love Stories Newsletter here.
In this very special episode, we travelled up north to Izustarri in Burgos to chat with Borja Saenz de Miera. Borja owns Izustarri, a stunning, solar-powered boutique resort perched on a big cliff overlooking the ocean.
It’s a different world up north in comparison to the bigger towns in Siargao like General Luna, and Borja shares what it’s like living there. We also get to uncover a bit of that mystery behind Borja, his past travels and experiences, what a 16-year relationship looks like with his wife Daphne and how to embrace change and live life to the fullest.
Follow Borja on Instagram: @reefonline
Follow Izustarri on Instagram: @izustarri_siargao
Tell us what you think! Follow and DM us on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify and giving us a star rating.
Be in the know — Join the Siargao Love Stories Newsletter here.
In this episode, we chat with Chris Bariou, owner of the luxury resort Maison Bukana in Siargao. Chris takes us on his personal journey and the reasoning and motivation behind his newfound vegan advocacy. In 2020, Chris was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer, thinking he had only a few weeks left to live. He opens up about that whole experience, how he felt, what he thought at the time and how it became one of the catalysts for transitioning into a completely plant-based lifestyle.
As an outspoken vegan, Chris has a wealth of knowledge and we cover all aspects of why and how to live a more mindful lifestyle. We also touch on how his life changed after dating Philippine superstar Nadine Lustre and how together they’re helping to change people’s lives for the better.
Follow Chris on Instagram: @cbariou
Follow Maison Bukana on Instagram: @maisonbukana
Follow Maison Bukana Wines on Instagram: @maisonbukanawines
Tell us what you think! Follow and DM us on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify and giving us a star rating.
Be in the know — Join the Siargao Love Stories Newsletter here.
You gotta love Jasmin Schroeter, mostly known on the island as Jaz Jaz. In this episode, we talk about the big elephant in the room — or in this case, the island. We’re talking about fuckboys.
In one of the most interesting recordings we’ve done, Jaz talks about how life was in Siargao 14 years ago when she first arrived to the island, mentioning and reminiscing moments with some of the OGs — people who’ve shaped Siargao into what it is today.
And then, we go on to the big topic. We talk about the science behind fuckboys, why they’re so addictive and why this island makes for the perfect setting for them. But we also talk about learning from past mistakes, making healthier choices and eventually, and hopefully, finding real love.
Follow Jaz on Instagram: @jaz_in_paradise
Tell us what you think! Follow and DM us on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify and giving us a star rating.
Be in the know — Join the Siargao Love Stories Newsletter here.
In this episode, we chat with Iz At Hrapkova, owner of the island cocktail bar Manu, which she co-owns and runs with her husband Adam. Iz shares details about their relationship dynamic, the importance of collaboration and working as a team, not just in their business as partners, but in their relationship as husband and wife.
We cover everything from quote “conscious fighting” to creating boundaries. Iz even shares her personal observations of the dating scene in Siargao and her own advice on how to make a long-term relationship work.
Follow Iz on Instagram: @izkinless
Follow Manu on Instagram: @manusiargaoofficial
Tell us what you think! Follow and DM us on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify and giving us a star rating.
Be in the know — Join the Siargao Love Stories Newsletter here.
In our very first episode of Season 3, we chat with Nicole Serrano Honasan. Nicole is the owner of vegetarian/vegan cafe, The Beachbaby Cafe, in General Luna and a yoga teacher at Lotus Shores.
At the time we recorded this episode, it was a few days before December 16th, 2024 which marked the 2-year anniversary since Typhoon Odette hit Siargao. Nicole shares her story from Odette, recalling her experience, how she felt and what she was thinking. We also talk about her life in Siargao, her love of Siargao, her love of surfing and how it relates to her experience practicing yoga. We talk about our inner child, embracing change and aging — and just about life in general.
Follow Nicole on Instagram: @moonbabies
Follow The Beachbaby Cafe on Instagram: @thebeachbabycafe.siargao
Tell us what you think! Follow and DM us on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify and giving us a star rating.
Be in the know — Join the Siargao Love Stories Newsletter here.
Siargao Love Stories is back with a third season of stories about love and life on the tear-shaped island of Siargao, Philippines.
We started this little island podcast back in February 2021 in the midst of a global pandemic. Two years later we’re back for a whole new season — and things on the island are a lot different now.
As Siargao gets busier and busier, we need stories. Stories about the individuals living and thriving on this island — the people that make Siargao what it is.
This season we go a bit deeper, exploring the nuances of romantic love as well as the many different types of love, with Siargao as the main character. We chat with a range of truly unique and interesting guests about everything from surfing, spirituality and self-love to the meaning of true partnership, toxic relationships, healthy relationships, dating on the island and everything in between.
A huge thank you to our friend Chris Alfaro of Free the Robots for his music.
Join the conversation on Instagram: @siargaolovestories
Support the podcast by hitting 'Follow' on our Spotify and giving us a star rating.
Be the first to know when new episodes drop, read post-episode insights and get first dibs on exclusive merch coming soon. Subscribe to the Siargao Love Stories Newsletter.
On December 16th, 2021, the unimaginable happened. Our small island of Siargao was hit by Typhoon Odette — one of the strongest storms on Earth that year and declared Category 5, with winds that reached over 260 kph. 95% of Siargao was completely destroyed, including the homes, businesses and livelihood of the local communities.
With signal down for days and no communications from the island, Lokal Lab, a non-profit organization based in Siargao, led the charge and took action to get relief goods and shelter to the island fast.
In this episode, we speak with Kara Rosas, co-founder and president of Lokal Lab and the main point of contact in Siargao’s relief operations. Kara shares her experience and takes us behind the scenes of the relief operations from her perspective. We learn about Lokal Lab, its mission, projects and ultimate dream of empowering the local community to create a self-sustainable island. We also hear about incredible stories on the ground of local individuals finding smart and resourceful ways to help as many people in their own communities.
At the time of recording, it has been exactly one month after Typhoon Odette landed in Siargao. The reality of the situation is that there is still so much to be done and still so much pain and trauma that lingers, especially from those who experienced the storm first hand. But there is hope and it’s so inspiring to see the strength and love in Siargao’s community that there is no doubt we will rebuild from this and only come back stronger.
Donate to Lokal Lab and its ongoing efforts in Siargao here.
In the Philippines, food and love go hand in hand. In this episode, I chat with three incredible Filipino chefs from Siargao, each with unique styles, different experiences, perspectives and philosophies on food.
You’ll first hear from David del Rosario from the wildly popular kinilaw-only spot in Siargao called Cev about leaving his corporate job to pursue his passion and purpose as a chef. Then we speak with vegan chef and owner of Malasa, Ramon Pastelero, about how his way of cooking connects with his spirituality. And last but not least, we talk to Andrew Malarky from the restaurant Wild about embracing our Filipino-ness using food as a bridge towards our own identity. What ties these very different chefs all together is their love of food and their craft.
For international residents who considered Siargao home, but were unable to return due to the country's lockdown — what is life like for them now?
In this episode, we chat with Alex Goldyn, founder of Siargao's non-profit animal rescue organization, Puppy Puddle. Alex is of Polish descent, but has been living in the Philippines for 10 years and Siargao for five of those years. She's built a life here on the island and considered it her home. So when she left for a quick trip to the U.S. in the beginning of 2020, she never in her wildest dreams thought she'd ever be locked out, unable to return. Almost two years later, she still hasn't been back in the Philippines.
In our first ever overseas episode via Skype, we talk to Alex about what that whole experience has been like, her own personal growth, lessons from her long-term relationship and, of course, that deep love for our dogs.
Gayle Villaluz Casaccia is the owner of White Banana Beach Club, a gorgeous resort and restaurant in Siargao, which she helps to run along with her husband. She’s also a mother of four girls — three of which she had with her partner from a previous marriage. Gayle is also a former employee of an Only Fans growth management agency, where she trained others on sex talk, fetishes, sexting and flirting. What a job.
When you see Gayle and her husband together, it’s as if they are still in the honeymoon phase — super affectionate and undeniably in love. You would never guess they’ve been together for 6 years. What people may or may not know is that Gayle and her husband are currently in a non-monogamous relationship — and in this episode, she shares her journey, her thoughts on monogamy and creating a partnership outside conformity as well as secrets to long-lasting love.
It's a rainy, late night slumber party kind of vibe as I chat with the lovely Summer Puertollano.
Summer is a creative entrepreneur here on the island, and she moved to Siargao from Manila in 2015, when she was just 24 years old. She’s the founder and creator of Para Sa Diwa, a brand that makes handcrafted skin care, soaps and home products. Summer is also the co-founder of Gawa Gawa, a beautiful new creative community space in General Luna, where we record the Siargao Love Stories podcast. She’s also a writer and photographer, and she speaks so beautifully and openly about love and life in her works.
In this episode, Summer and I catch up, and we dive right in, sharing our most intimate secrets and life lessons from our past relationships and situationships. We admit to our often destructive patterns when it comes to relationships, we explore what we want in future partnerships and we talk about finding our own truth.
Support the show on our new Patreon page ❤️
This next guest needs no introduction. Verity Wigley, known on the island as "Hippie," was the first woman foreigner to ever set foot in Siargao over 20 years ago… and she hasn’t left since. Not only is Hippie the owner of the famous Cafe Loka on Cloud 9, she is also the fiercest fitness trainer on the island, as owner of the Sisters of Siargao workout studio in Malinao.
In this episode, we talk about the Hippie origins, her experiences and her past and present life in Siargao. We talk about the Wild Woman archetype, how she's had to brave the wilderness as a single mother while learning to stay true to herself. Hippie also shares the value and importance of sisterhood, especially on the island, and her definition of real love. This is as raw and honest as it gets.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/siargaolovestories)
It’s our last episode of Season 1 of Siargao Love Stories, and what better way to close it off than with Chris Alfaro a.k.a. Free the Robots. Chris is an LA-based music producer who found himself living in Siargao right at the beginning of the pandemic. He’s the creator of our intro and outro track “Daku (432 hz),” and he talks in depth about the inspiration behind this beautiful song.
In this conversation, Chris talks about his past life in the city as one of the pioneering artists in LA’s underground music scene and beat movement, his love of music, the powerful connection between creativity and surfing, the importance of solitude and so much more.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/siargaolovestories)
Born and raised in Siargao and owner of Very Good Nice surf shop, Jun Jun Nogalo is arguably the best surf instructor on the island. Not only is his attention to detail when it comes to surfing and his teaching style so good, but he has this warm energy, this humbleness and overall just beautiful spirit that’s both contagious and memorable to anyone who’s ever encountered him.
In this episode, we sit down at Shaka Cafe overlooking Cloud 9 for a casual conversation about what it was like growing up Siargao and how it’s changed, his love of the ocean and of surf, and of course, what it feels like to be inside a barrel.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/siargaolovestories)
**Mara Reyes is one of the co-founders of Virago Soul — an online community and blog created as a way to connect with unconventional mothers and to share things that are rarely discussed — the not-so-picture-perfect side of motherhood.
Originally from Manila, Mara is a designer and stylist, best known for her stint on Project Runway Philippines. She was at the peak of her career in her 20s — and then she had a baby. She gave up her lifestyle to raise her child as a single mom. This is her story, her journey towards finding herself again, loving herself again and learning how to heal.**
This is unapologetic motherhood in all its glory and badassery.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/siargaolovestories)
In this solo episode, Siargao Love Stories creator and host Desiree Gamotin has a lot on her mind...
Triggered by news of the recent hate crimes against Asian Americans, Desiree shares her personal journey of healing and returning back to love by accessing and releasing the pain and racial trauma suppressed in her body through embodied yoga. This is her love story.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/siargaolovestories)
Our first international guest on the show, Fini Hida is from Albania, but was raised in the U.K. An avid world traveller, she moved to the island a few years ago after falling in love with Siargao — and falling in love with a local surfer here.
Integrating herself into the lifestyle and local culture, she co-founded the non-profit organization, Seashine Siargao, where volunteer English tutors hold weekly "popup classrooms" for small groups of local kids.
In this episode, we talk about the 5 Love Languages and the challenges of communicating with a partner outside of your own culture.
(Tip: For the best listening experience, play this episode on your speakers. 🔊💗)
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/siargaolovestories)
Good Karma Naturals creator and small business owner, Caye Simpoo, has been in an eight-year tumultuous (and very public) on-and-off relationship with a local Siargaonon, Bryan, a surf instructor and one of the best surf photographers on the island. Think of Rachel and Ross from the TV show Friends — but times a million and, in Caye's words, "a bit volcanic."
In this episode, Caye takes us through her memories, experiences and significant parts of her relationship, as we unravel and uncover the ways we give and receive love. We talk about emotional addiction, ego-centred love versus authentic love and finding ways to rebuild yourself.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/siargaolovestories)
Mary Dizon moved to Siargao from Manila in July 2019 — two months after her father passed away. Now she helps run one of the busiest restaurants in Siargao, Wild, and she's behind some of the local projects, including Siargao Unknown and Island Freelancers, on TOP of doing her online work for clients abroad. Mary is the typical Virgo — practical, hardworking perfectionist — but with a beautiful heart of gold.
In this episode, we talk about heartbreak from loss, the importance of friendships on the island and long-distance relationships.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/siargaolovestories)
At 22 years old, Philippine pro surfer Ana Mae Alipayo (a.k.a. Mae Mae) is a fierce charger on the waves. But there’s also this soft side to her, a calm energy and pensiveness that makes her so dynamic and layered as a human — slash mermaid.
In this episode, Mae Mae talks about vulnerability, long-term relationships and learning how to surrender, in and out of the water.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/siargaolovestories)