Suroy tourists ‘like’ tour under Magpale’s lead

STUDENT no longer lined up on the streets to welcome tourists participating in the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo in Samboan.

But Samboan Mayor Raymond Calderon said this is a good thing because he did not want the students to be exposed to the sun’s glare or get soaked in the rain while waiting for hours for tourists.

Participants of the Capitol-led tour also said they like the itinerary better because there are no speeches and they have more time to visit attractions.

Acting Cebu Gov. Agnes Magpale, however, went back to her office at the Capitol to attend to her other duties.

Magpale led the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Southern Getaway, her first tour since assuming the post, on its first day last Wednesday. She did not require students to meet tourists on the streets.

Entertainment

Yesterday, the tour went to the towns of Samboan, Badian and Ginatilan.

Students of the Samboan National High school entertained participants of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Southern Getaway with music produced by a bamboo and a water drum.

Tour participants had lunch in front of the Museo de Samboan while students played rondalla.

A grade 4 pupil, Tommy Jones Herana, performed song numbers including the Cebuano song “Matud Nila.” Herana is always asked to perform during Suroy-Suroy tours in Samboan.

He got P2,700 as tip from tourists yesterday.

Evelyn Castanares-Todd, who is based in Las Vegas, USA, said she liked the tour more than the one she joined in three years ago.

No speeches

She said tourists like her were not subjected to speeches, except for the welcome message of the mayors.

Marina Kaufmann, 44, who is based in Singapore, said this Suroy-Suroy is “not stressful” unlike those in the past because they are not rushed about.

In the past, she said, they were only given 30 minutes to one hour per town. Now, they get to see more heritage sites, she added.

Tour participants got to visit Samboan’s St. Michael de Archangel church, the station of the cross and the museum.

In Ginatilan, they checked out the St. Gregory Church.

Ginatilan was often mentioned in the news recently because it is the reported birthplace of San Pedro Calungsod.

Ginatilan Vice Mayor Michael Dean Singco waived at the buses used in the Suroy-Suroy.

In Badian, tour participants visited Kawasan falls. Some went swimming while others just took pictures.

Kawasan was closed last year for tourists when Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia found illegal structures encroaching on the swimming area.

Towns that took part in the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Southern Getaway are allotted P20,000 each by the Capitol.