MANILA, Philippines - It took a grand vision to pluck a province from obscurity. But this young governor?s ambition and foresight made his place a winner?locally and internationally.

Camarines Sur, now better known by its hipper nick ?CamSur,? is the place to be for adventure and eco-tourism. The CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC) recently hosted the World Wakeboarding Championship. It?s the first ever for an Asian country to host a championship that is held only every three years.

?The Philippines is a beautiful country. We have one of the best beaches and exciting tourist attractions. What I needed was a magnet, something distinct from the rest of the provinces,? said Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymond ?Lray? Villafuerte Jr.

The six-hectare CWC, located within the Provincial Capitol Complex, Cadlan, Pili, Camarines Sur, opened to the public in 2006. It is a mere 20-minute ride from Naga City domestic airport (flight from Manila to Naga is only 35 minutes long), or an eight-hour bus ride from Manila.

With its six-point cable ski system, it quickly gained respect from wakeboarding associations and enthusiasts around the world that in just two years, it won the bid to host the world championship. (A six-point cable ski system ensures a better pull so that learning the sport is easier, Villafuerte said.)

An island in the middle also washes the wake, so there are no chops and bumps. Rides are as smooth as they can get, and air trick skills better perfected with or without using the world-class obstacles (ramps). It is precisely for this reason that CWC has earned the accolades of even the most fastidious wakeboarding organizations worldwide.

Accommodation is readily available through the Ecovillage, Mansion Suites, and soon-to-open luxury villas and suites located within the complex. ?Our biggest challenge right now is accommodation. We have 115 rooms but with the rising demand we need to build 150 more,? he said.

All watersports

One can play cable ski, wakeboard, kneeboard, water ski and wake skate in just one destination. At an affordable rate of P125/hour, Villafuerte said wakeboarding is accessible to anyone. (Rates abroad are US$20 and Euro 24 per hour.) Even better, the fees already include basic equipment, instructions and safety tips from resident trainers.

The complex has a Pro Shop complete with the latest technology in gear; a clubhouse with live entertainment, billiards, darts and foosball; spa pavilions for massage; beach volleyball area and swimming pool; a restaurant that boasts of laing pizza, a popular fare among vegetarians; Wi-Fi capabilities; an elevated spectator area.

In just two years, said Villafuerte, CWC?s closest rival today would be the Orlando Watersports Complex in the US, the birthplace of wakeboarding.

?This is the biggest world championship event in history, in terms of the number of participants and the countries represented,? said Shannon Starling, president, World Wakeboarding Association.

Villafuerte said it was his son who first challenged him to the sport a couple of years ago. Always one to never say no to a challenge, he tried it once and instantly found it addictive.

?So there I was, looking for a distinct adventure my province would be known for, when my son challenged me to try wakeboarding. I thought, if I can get addicted to this sport, other people can, too,? Villafuerte said.

Being in a tropical country helped attract even more adventure-seeking tourists. Westerners crowd the place from October to March when lakes in the West would freeze for the winter; March to June would see locals, old-timers and newbies, learning the sport; July to August, summertime in Western countries, would also see many tourists.

There?s more than watersports in CamSur, Villafuerte said. There?s the famous Camaroan Peninsula where the French version of the reality TV series ?Survivor? was shot. There are hot springs, waterfalls, rock-climbing on limestone wall on Gota Beach; spelunking, bird-watching at Camaroan National Park; dolphin-watching for Indo-Pacific bottlenose and spotted dolphins. The province also has a deer farm owned and operated by the government.

?The family will never run out of things to do here,? Villafuerte said. ?Foreigners who come for mere wakeboarding realize there?s more to CamSur than watersports, and bring their families the next time they visit.?

CamSur is now the No. 1 destination in Bicol. In just two years, it has seen a 70-percent growth in tourist arrivals. It is now second to Boracay in terms of growth.