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It is not a surprise that he achieved so much because his life is
spent on the beach with their house just a stone's throw away. This guy has really
something to boot when it comes to surfing. With eight major awards, no one can contest
that, only once his hobby, it has gone him a long, long way literally ang figuratively.
Rommel Ritual Rojo or O-Koy, as his popular moniker, is a 24-year old fourth year civil
engineering student at ASCOT. Can be mistaken as a regular guy, many will be fascinated to
know that he tries to juggle his time betweek surfing, his band Badfish, earning income
and his love life. Let's look more into what it is to be O-Koy:
 How did you start surfing?
A first, panood-nood lang kasi nga malapit kami sa beach, then, a friend
ask me to try it out. 'Yun na and up to now I'm hooked on it.
What do you like most about what you do?
Everything. When you say surfing, for me it has become my lifestyle. What I mean
is that almost everything about me changes because of its influence... the way I dress,
the way I treat people and friends, the way I look at things and especially the music.
Describe what a day like to you.
During schooldays, if i have time, minsan surf sa hapon. But on
Saturdays and Sundays, umaga at hapon tapos isisingit ko na lang 'yung pamamasada ng tricycle.
What keeps you busy besides playing with the waves?
Honestly, school eats up most of my time, sobrang dami ng requirements, tapos
practice pa sa banda. But, of course, I always see to it that I find time with my
girlfriend.
Places you've been to and your fave.
La Union, Samar, siargao, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Cebu. My favorite is
siargao, it has the best waves and I also enjoyed the travel, masarap kasing sumakay
sa barko.
Do you have any other talent or skill?
As i've mentioned, I am a member of a band. I play the lead guitar and I can do a
little singing too. I play basketball and table tennis and needless to say, I can swim.
Any accidents?
I get bruises and cuts when I get hit by surfboards and that include mine and the
other surfer's. I usually get cuts 'pag tumatama ako sa reefs 'dun
sa may Dapa sa Cemento.
Who do you look up to?
Andy Irons and Kelly Slater. They are my idols and both won the world
championship in surfing but I still wanted to become a successful engineer.
Let's end this with your awards.
Okaym I'll start with the local. My first championship awards was on 1998 Action
Asia Aurora Surfing Cup Junior Division. I was the first runner-up on the 1st Bay's Inn
Challenge 2001 and the champion on it's second year and placed 3rd on the 4th Aurora
Surfing Cup 2000. All of them were on the open division. Outside the province: 1st
runner-up 1997 quicksilver Philippine National Surfing Championship (Junior), San Juan, La
Union; 1st Runner-up 1999 Camariner Norte Surfing Cup (open), Bagasbas Beach, Daet;
Champion 2002 Rash La Union Surf Challenge (open); Champion 2002 Borongan Samar National
Surfing Competition (Open).
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Since this article was written Rommel have won the following competitions:
3RD Bay's Inn Surfing Challenge - 3rd Place
2003 La Union Surfing Challenge - Champion
8th Aurora Surfing Cup - Champion
8th Aurora Surfing Cup Tro Peak Airshow - Champion
This article originally appeared on The Voice, the official Student/Community paper of the
Aurora State College of Technology.
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Vangie was a writer/ photographer /surfer, among other things, on a
mission of documenting on the net her adventure travels in the Philippines and around the
world, hoping that you, too will be inspired with the places she had the opportunity to
visit.
Vangie passed away last May 2, 2003. She will be greatly missed.
TRAVELS WITH JULIANA
FEATURES ARTICLES ON:
:: 5th Aurora
Surfing Cup
:: 1998 Action Asia
Aurora Surfing Cup
:: 1st Aurora Surfing Cup
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