Philmar Alipayo, born August 17, 1992, in Siargao, Philippines, is a Filipino professional surfer and surf coach. He is also known as the partner of former actress Andi Eigenmann.
Alipayo became the first Filipino champion of the Philippine Surfing Championship Tour in 2017.
Who is Philmar Alipayo?
Philmar Alipayo, nicknamed Chepoxz, is a professional surfer from Siargao Island in the Philippines. He built his career on the same waves he grew up riding as a child.
Alipayo has competed at both national and international levels, including a strong finish at the West Sumbawa Pro in Bali in 2016. He now works as the head coach and founder of Happy Islanders Surf Club, alongside his role with the Philippine National Surfing Team.
Beyond competition, Alipayo is a recognizable social media presence. He shares his life in Siargao alongside partner Andi Eigenmann and their children, drawing millions of followers to their family content.
Early Life of Philmar Alipayo
Alipayo was born and raised on Siargao Island, a location later famous worldwide for its surfing culture. Growing up on the island, he was surrounded by the ocean from an early age.
His brother, PJ Alipayo, also became a professional surfer. Their uncle, known as Yok-Yok, was a respected surfer himself and became the primary mentor for both brothers.
Alipayo first tried surfing at age 10 or 11, when his uncle pushed him into a wave. He has said the experience initially discouraged him, and he avoided surfing for three months afterward before returning to the sport for good.
Information about Alipayo’s parents remains limited, though he has described them as supportive of his surfing pursuits throughout his childhood.
Philmar Alipayo Age
Philmar Alipayo is 33 years old as of 2026, born on August 17, 1992. His zodiac sign is Leo.
He has competed professionally for well over a decade since taking up the sport as a child. That experience has carried him from local competitions in Siargao to national titles across the Philippines.
Philmar Alipayo Ethnicity and Nationality
Alipayo holds Filipino nationality and was born on Siargao Island in the Philippines. He is of Filipino, specifically Surigaonon, ethnic background, reflecting his roots in the Surigao del Norte region.
His nickname, Chepoxz, comes from a name given to him by childhood friends on the island. That local Surigaonon identity has remained closely tied to his public persona throughout his surfing career.
Philmar Alipayo Height and Weight
Alipayo stands at approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, or around 1.80 meters. His weight is estimated at around 75 kilograms, or 165 pounds.
He maintains an athletic build suited to competitive surfing, a sport that demands balance, strength, and endurance. That physical conditioning has supported his multi-decade competitive career.
Philmar Alipayo Education
Alipayo completed his primary and secondary schooling in his hometown on Siargao Island. He also earned a diploma after continuing his studies alongside his surfing training.
His real education in the sport came directly from his uncle Yok-Yok, who trained both Philmar and his brother PJ from childhood. That mentorship shaped his technical foundation well before any formal coaching credentials.
Philmar Alipayo Career
Early Career
Alipayo began surfing at age 10, training under his uncle Yok-Yok on the waves of Siargao. He entered his first World Surf League-sanctioned season in 2012, competing in the Men’s Junior division.
He spent years building his skills through local competitions on the island before advancing to bigger tournaments. Cloud 9 and Tuason Point, both located in Siargao, became his home training grounds throughout this period.
Major Achievements
In 2016, Alipayo won the West Sumbawa Pro in Bali, Indonesia, a result that placed him among Asia’s top-ranked surfers that year. The win marked his first major international recognition outside the Philippines.
The following year brought his biggest career milestone. In 2017, Alipayo won the 19th Siargao National Surfing Cup and became the first Filipino champion of the Philippine Surfing Championship Tour’s Men’s Shortboard division.
That same year, he also reached the number one ranking among surfers in the Philippines. Alipayo has since held a position within the top ranks of the Men’s Shortboard division on the PSCT.
Current Role and Recent Work
Alipayo now competes on the international Qualifying Series circuit while also coaching. In the Men’s QS 2024/2025 rankings, he held the 76th position, reflecting his continued participation at the international level.
He serves as head coach and founder of Happy Islanders Surf Club in Siargao. Alongside that role, Alipayo coaches for the Philippine National Surfing Team, passing his experience on to the next generation of Filipino competitors.
He also works as a surf guide at Harana Surf Resort, teaching visiting tourists at some of Siargao’s most famous breaks. Alipayo co-owns a lodging business in Baler, Aurora, another major surfing destination in the Philippines.
Philmar Alipayo Awards and Championships
Alipayo’s championship résumé includes the 2016 West Sumbawa Pro title in Bali and the 2017 19th Siargao National Surfing Cup. His 2017 win made him the first Filipino to claim the Philippine Surfing Championship Tour’s Men’s Shortboard title.
That same year, he also earned the number one ranking among surfers nationally in the Philippines. His achievements helped raise the profile of Philippine surfing on the international competitive stage.
Philmar Alipayo Endorsements and Sponsorships
Alipayo has worked with KS Boardriders, a Philippine surf shop, discussing his career and the sport’s local growth in interviews with the brand. He has also built a public profile through partnerships tied to Siargao’s tourism and surf industry.
His role at Harana Surf Resort connects him directly to the island’s tourism economy. Alipayo’s visibility as both an athlete and social media personality has made him a recognizable face for Philippine surf culture.
Philmar Alipayo Partner
Alipayo has been in a relationship with former actress Andi Eigenmann since 2018. The couple got engaged in 2020, and they have lived together in Siargao ever since.
They share two children, Lilo and Koa. Eigenmann also has a daughter, Ellie, from a previous relationship, whom Alipayo has helped raise as part of their blended family.
In April 2024, the couple announced they would postpone their wedding following the death of Eigenmann’s mother, actress Jaclyn Jose, that March.
In February 2025, the pair briefly sparked breakup speculation after unfollowing each other on Instagram amid a public dispute involving one of Alipayo’s friends.
Eigenmann clarified at the time that Alipayo had not been unfaithful. The couple confirmed they had resolved their issues later that same month, sharing a family video together on social media.
Philmar Alipayo Children
Alipayo and Eigenmann welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Keliana Alohi, known as Lilo, on July 23, 2019. Their second child, a son named Koa, was born on January 17, 2021.
The family lives together on Siargao Island. Alipayo also helps raise Ellie, Eigenmann’s daughter from a previous relationship with actor Jake Ejercito.
Alipayo has spoken about hoping his children follow him into surfing. He has said he wants to remain their coach and supporter both in the sport and in life more broadly.
Philmar Alipayo Net Worth
Philmar Alipayo’s estimated net worth is $1 million as of 2026. His income comes from surfing competitions, his coaching role at Happy Islanders Surf Club, surf guiding at Harana Surf Resort, and his lodging business in Baler, Aurora.
He has built his income through multiple streams tied directly to the surfing industry rather than competition earnings alone. That diversification has supported his family’s life in Siargao over the years.
Philmar Alipayo Social Media
Alipayo is active on Instagram under @chepoxz, where he shares surfing content along with family life in Siargao.
He also maintains a Facebook page under his own name, where he posts as both a professional surfer and coach for the Philippine National Surfing Team.
The Bottom Line
Alipayo became the first Filipino champion of the Philippine Surfing Championship Tour’s Men’s Shortboard division in 2017, a year after winning the West Sumbawa Pro in Bali. He now competes on the international Qualifying Series while coaching the Philippine National Surfing Team.
He grew up on Siargao Island, trained by his uncle Yok-Yok alongside his brother PJ, both of whom became professional surfers. Alipayo has built his public profile around that same island life, sharing it with partner Andi Eigenmann and their children.
He currently heads Happy Islanders Surf Club as founder and coach while continuing to guide tourists at Harana Surf Resort. Alipayo remains based in Siargao with Eigenmann and their children, Lilo and Koa.
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