Morena Spotlight: This Siargao Surf Coach Shares How She Learned to Love Her Morena Glow

Morena Spotlight is a digital series from Allure Philippines that highlights the stories of morenas from all over the country and the Filipino diaspora. Know a morena who deserves the spotlight? Send us an email at [email protected]

Elaine Abonal, 41, from Siargao is a head coach with Surfista Siargao, the owner of Surfista Villa, a content creator, and a mother.

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Sometimes, the things we hear as children can’t help but stick. 

For Elaine Abonal, an idyllic childhood spent outdoors under the sun—swimming, surfing, or just running around—also meant being taunted and teased for her morena skin. 

After a long day under the sun, she would get offhanded comments along the lines of “Ay, ang itim mo na,” which made her think that, since she was already darker-skinned to begin with, she couldn’t enjoy her time outdoors, or had to lighten her skin to be considered acceptable.

“My mom and sister are mestizas, and I got my dad’s tan skin,” she shares. “I was called ‘negra,’ ‘monkey,’ and even ‘taeng kalabaw,’ which really hurt,” she admits. “The fact that I still remember it must have really made an impression in my young mind.”

It was only as Abonal got older, and ventured out abroad to study and travel, that she gained a different perspective on her morena skin—a new perspective that was deeply appreciative, and rooted in the fact that, out there, everyone else coveted her skin color. 

“My friends in the U.S. and Europe thought my skin was gorgeous and that I should never change it. My morena skin is what they wanted, “ she shares, adding, “The fact that I looked different was what made me beautiful and unique. I realized my skin is part of what connects me to the ocean, to the tropics, and to the island girl that I am.”

Abonal is now 41 years old, a mother, and a surf instructor based in Siargao. And although she still remembers quite clearly the cutting words spoken to her as a child, the inner journey she’s taken on her own—from feeling confused about her skin color, to accepting it, and now to wearing it proudly—is one that has come to define her. 

That journey, she says, has made her the person she is today, and is one thing she would love to tell her daughter about. “I want to keep sharing this morena pride with the world.”

Courtesy of subject

Below, Abonal tells Allure Philippines about her personal tips and tricks for a sun-kissed glow, and what she loves the most about her beautiful golden color.

What’s your skin-care routine like as a morena?

As a morena and now as a 40 year old, skin care is really about protection and care. Living in Siargao means I’m under the sun every single day, so sunscreen is my number one essential. It also means that I am exposed to a lot of dust and dirt, so I make sure to cleanse properly before going to bed. I also hydrate a lot. My skin feels its best when I am drinking enough water, and moisturizing.

Any preferred techniques, hacks, or products?

I use sunscreen every. single. day. I still have no wrinkles and that is my testimony to the long-term benefit of [using] sunscreen.

I’ve been doing an ice-cold face dip every morning and I believe it has done wonders for my skin! It not only helps me wake up, but keeps my face tight and reduces fine lines. I’ve also started using my Gua Sha a few times a week to “massage” or “exercise” my face and I believe that has made a difference, too.

I am a believer and a fan of VMV Hypoallergenics. It’s made by a Filipina who understands the needs of Filipino skin.

I also know that when it comes to skin care, consistency is key. Every morning, I put on sunscreen even if I’m just going to be outdoors or even if it’s rainy outside. Every night, I still wash off the salt and sand before sleeping.

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How about your beauty or makeup routine? Are there particular shades or tricks you apply?

I’m not big on heavy makeup, especially since I live by the ocean and I’m always surfing. Every day, I make sure I have moisturizer on, plus sunscreen on top of that. 

When I do put on makeup, I like warm tones that match my skin, like bronzers and lip tints that look natural. I actually even have a surf zinc or surf sunscreen that’s bronze and gold that makes me look like I’m made up even in the surf! The brand is from Australia and it’s called People of the Earth.

I also realized that you can use [your] lip tint as a blush, or blush as an eyeshadow. We don’t have to overcomplicate things nor spend too much adding a bit of pizzazz to our look. It’s important to experiment and choose colors or tones that complement our morena skin tones, not [choose based on] what’s selling well or what everybody is wearing.

Honestly, I feel most beautiful after a surf session, when I have a deep brown tan and a hint of sun-kissed blush on my cheeks. No need for makeup!

What do you love about being a morena?

I love that my skin tells the story of my life and that I am from the Philippines. It’s sun-kissed from surfing, it reflects the freedom of island living, and it reminds me every day to embrace who I am. Being morena means being authentically myself. I love that it connects me not only to fellow Filipinas, but to other morenas around the world—especially those who are proud of it! 

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I also love the fact that I do stand out when I travel and that I have a unique look, especially when I go to the U.S., Europe, Australia. I’m a proud Filipina, a surfer, a mom who is raising her daughter to see beauty beyond skin tone. I love that I get to be an example of how you don’t have to change yourself in order to fit in, and how your natural beauty is already enough.