|
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Alegria honors pride of town
By Liberty A. Pinili
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
What does the southwestern municipality of Alegria have that cities in Metro Cebu don’t?
At first glance, nothing. There doesn’t seem to be anything doing in the town, which up until last year was a fifth class municipality.
The roads and national highway are deserted most of the time except for the occasional bus and habal-habal.
Most of the economic and social activities in the town are centered at the Poblacion where the municipal hall and the Roman Catholic church are located.
And the few shops that exist in the area offer only the essentials.
But there’s more to Alegria than meets the eye.
Urbanites would envy the clear seawaters in the town, even in the Poblacion, which is more densely populated than other barangays in the municipality.
While the town celebrated Araw ng Alegria, its founding anniversary, Mayor Raul Guisadio pointed out more interesting stuff about the town.
Alegria used to be part of the town of Samboan before 1857. It was called, “Tubod,” after a freshwater spring that was provided water for drinking and other uses by residents and travelers.
Spanish soldiers
The name Alegria came about when Spanish soldiers, who chanced upon a festive gathering around the spring. The soldiers, who reportedly joined the festivity, had exclaimed, “Que alegre!”
“What is really amazing is that the tubod still exists until today,” said Guisadio.
Residents and travelers continue to tap the spring for drinking and washing. The spring, found in Sitio Sta. Rosa in Barangay Poblacion, empties directly to the sea.
Guisadio said the town is also blessed with a waterfall, which is reportedly the source of the famous Kawasan Falls in neighboring Badian.
Urbanites may brush off Alegria’s serenity – the mayor bragged of almost zero crime – and clean environment to the fact that it is rural area, but Metro Cebu residents would certainly envy the town’s 24-hour water supply, with rates at P20 per cubic meter.
Guisadio said as the town is now on its second year of celebrating its founding day, the Municipal Government has started to prepare several sites for possible tourism development to boost the town’s income.
In 2004, the town’s local income was P4 million while its internal revenue allotment was P20 million.
Municipal planning officer Jesus Rey Cavalida said they are evaluating the eco-tourism potentials of several sites, including: Cambais Falls in Barangay Valencia; Cancalanog and Kanlaob mountain resorts in Barangay Compostela; the white beach in Batong Malunhaw; Quitara river and forest in Guadalupe; and Barangay Lepanto, which is described as a little Baguio.
Dolphin and whale-watching tours can also be arranged from the town, which is located along the Tañon Strait.
But there are other good things that are neither seen nor touched in Alegria.
During the Araw ng Alegria, the town honored 14 individuals and groups, including two former mayors, Cebu Provincial Prosecutor Jane Petralba, Raymund Aller and Brandon Enad, who has just passed the bar, and recently ordained Fr. Joseph Aquino.
Guisadio said the activity is the town’s way of expressing collective pride and gratitude to the achievements and contributions of its residents and institutions.
Then there’s the townsfolk’s hospitality that cannot be refused even on a full stomach.
(June 23, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
