IT has become a custom of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), during its celebration of June as Cebu Business Month (CBM) to also hold some kind of race around parts of Cebu, in order to promote tourism. This year, the race was dubbed Lumba’g Laag sa Sugbo in 22 towns of Southern Cebu, in partnership with the Cebu Provincial Government, the Department of Tourism and Habagat Outdoor Equipment And what a laag it proved to be!
To start the race, the participants -18 teams (Rexidol Enervon, Big Brothers, APSI, Cebu Oversea Builders Center, Funtastic 4, F2 Logistics, Team Insular, Cebu Landmasters, Primehomes, Azpired Travel, Opascor, UCLM-HM, CCLEX Squad, Airasia A, Airasia B, Lexmark, USPF, and Kapinoy) –had first to climb palo sebos set up at SM Seaside before they could proceed to the Naga boardwalk where the teams were made to swim to an anchored boat to get water gallon containers which, on being brought back to the beach, they had to fill with four liters of sea water. Then they were off to San Fernando to see Hidden Paradise and, as tasks, to set up hammocks in Bacalla Woods. From there they went to Carcar to see its new city hall and to chop the herbs stuffing for the famous Carcar lechon. In Sibonga they drank turmeric wine and in Argao they molded tableas as well as looked for the balete tree. In Dalaguete, they toured Sergio’s Farm where they saw the strawberry fields. They were also made to match plants with their scientific names, and to gather 11 herb greens for their vegetable salad. For the night they set up tents at the Dalaguete Beach Park.
Day two started in Alcoy where they were made to do a military crawl and to get a puzzle. In Boljoon they visited Cebu’s oldest church. Then they climbed Eli rock from where they had to rappel down in order to go to their next destination, Oslob, where they had a whale shark orientation in Tanawan and had a look-see of the Oslob Heritage Park. In Santander, they had a groupfie with the sigbin, a glimpse at the Sanayon site and a task: to pick four one-peso coins buried under a layer of flour, without using their hands. In Samboan, they went to the Campanario de Antigua and passed by one of its waterfalls. In Alegria, they went to its canyoneering jump off point. In Moalboal they stayed at the Seaside Park and “blew bubbles.”
Day three’s first stop was Alcantara where they were made to make a square out of pieces of cut-up paper. They were also made to swim 300 meters in the sea, among mangrove growths, to get the clue for their next destination and next task. In Dumanjug, they had the famous lechon manok bisaya, but first, they had to catch the chicken! In Barili, they were made to find the highest falls (Mantayupan) and then to catch fish in a tilapia pond. In Aloguinsan, they visited a farm house and they were made to feed worms to a chicken. In Pinamungahan, they had to make a puso. And finally, in Toledo they had to search for a map at an old barangay cemetery and then enumerate the towns that make up Cebu province.
And the winner was – Team Rexidol Enervon with a time of five hours, 36 minutes for finishing the assigned tasks. Big Brothers came next and APSI was third. In the words of Joy Love Bacala, Rexidol team leader, the whole laag was hard, challenging both physically and mentally, but also fun and a great way to meet and make new friends in a spirit of competition and warm camaraderie. And of course, to get to know Cebu’s fascinating places and immerse in her customs and traditions.