Monday, January 28, 2008 After 15th trip, Capitol upbeat on 'Suroy'
FOUR years and 15 Suroy-Suroy Sugbo trips later, the Southern Heritage Trail that culminated last Friday was the best ever, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Provincial Board (PB) Member Agnes Magpale, committee on tourism and international affairs chairperson, agreed.
Magpale said that while there were complaints about some washrooms not being clean enough, the activity has improved through the years.
She said that in the first few Suroy-Suroy trips, participants complained about the lack of comfort rooms.
“We really tried to address the problems, and we now have comfort rooms in every stop,” Magpale said in Cebuano.
This time, Magpale said, the problem was on the number of rooms because at least 200, including 130 balikbayans and foreign tourists, participated.
“Everybody is looking forward to the next Suroy-Suroy,” she told Sun.Star Cebu last Friday.
She said she talked and ate with the tourists to get their suggestions on how the activity can be improved.
The governor, too, was impressed.
“I am overwhelmed by the creativity, the endearing spirit of cooperation and the tremendous efforts that everybody took, especially our town officials led by our mayors,” said Garcia.
“There is a healthy competition among our mayors but I think what they were really trying to do was to outdo themselves every Suroy-Suroy. It has become better, more colorful, more interesting and this southern heritage trail is the best so far,” Garcia said.
The Archdiocese of Cebu’s Fr. Dan delos Angeles, who attended his fifth Suroy-Suroy, agreed.
“They have enriched their performances,” he said.
“Kung kaniadto gikalimtan ang mga lungsod, karon they have become stars in their own right. Nisidlak na ang daghang bituon sa lalawigan sa Sugbo (While before the towns were neglected, they now shine),” Garcia added.
Offering
Aloguinsan Mayor Cynthia Moreno is already preparing for her chance to shine. The next scheduled Suroy-Suroy is in March, which covers the southwestern towns, including Aloguinsan.
“The more I learned about other places, the more I appreciate the potential of my municipality,” Moreno told Sun.Star Cebu last Friday.
Moreno, Magpale and Garcia attended the three-day activity.
PB Members Wenceslao Gakit and Wilfredo Caminero, Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco and San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya attended the first two days, while PB Member Julian Daan entertained guests during the first day.
Garcia’s daughter, lawyer Christina Codilla, arrived on the second day and finished the trail.
“It is a beautiful experience, seeing each town with its unique offering and the eager and proud faces of the locals who were enthusiastic to share what they have,” she said.
The last day of the activity covered the towns of Moalboal, Alcantara, Ronda, Dumanjug, Barili, Carcar City and Talisay City.
A seafood breakfast was served to the tourists in the town of Moalboal, where President Arroyo had spent a day diving as part of her itinerary in a 2004 visit to Cebu.
The tourists then moved to Alcantara where the town showcased its Bahandi Festival.
Food galore
Alcantara is the smallest town in Cebu in terms of land area. But it served the most food with roasted pork, roasted chicken, seafood and other local delicacies. The participants feasted even if breakfast was served only an hour before.
It was in the town of Ronda, though, where the tourists felt the most welcome because of two welcome parties meeting them. One was the group of the town’s Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and the official welcome party of Mayor Esteban Sia.
The ABC welcome party was led by defeated mayoral candidate Sally Blanco.
Lunch was served at the town of Dumanjug, which is famous for its roasted native chicken.
The tourists left the town of Barili in awe of the Mantayupan falls.
They then proceeded to the heritage town of Carcar City and ended the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo at Talisay City, known for its lechon.
“It was very impressive for our guests to experience the different cultures of the different towns in Cebu,” said tourist guide Antonino Flores, a member of the Cebu Association of Tourist Guides.
The tourists, he said, were mostly amazed by how hospitable the Cebuanos are. (JGA)
