Ten months after being destroyed by super typhoon "Odette," Siargao is back on its feet, slowly regaining its status as one of the world's best islands.

Local and foreign tourists are flocking in droves while resorts, restaurants and shops have reopened.

The town of General Luna hosted the highly-successful 26th Siargao International Surfing Cup won by Filipinos John Mark Tokong and Nilbie Blancada.

Rep. Bingo Matugas, one of the prime movers of the festival, launched their battlecry, "Bangon Siargao," in his moving speech during the opening ceremony.

Some 100 surfers, including entries from overseas, took part in the three-day competition.

Tourism is the single biggest source of revenue for the town, according to San Juan Mayor Sol Matugas.

It is no surprise that Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco was present during the opening ceremony in which she hailed the festival as a "celebration of the strength of spirit of the people of Siargao."

Frasco vowed that Siargao will flourish in the next few years in partnership with the national government. She identified infrastructure and gateway access as key solutions to key destinations such as Siargao.

"The national government is here to help Siargao recover, is here to help Siargao rise to the primary position that it deserves the world," Frasco said.

Data from the provincial tourism office show that the tourism-first island welcomed 14,404 tourists for the first semester of the year.

Things are looking up for the surfing paradise.