With fewer towns joining this year’s Suroy Suroy Sugbo, balikbayans and local tourists have more time to enjoy each stop in the southern Cebu trail.
“They cut it short this time but at least the guests are more relaxed than before because what we normally do before was limited due to the time,” said Marian Kimseng Pearson in yesterday’s kick-off of the three-day caravan.
Pearson has been joining the southern leg of the province’s countryside tourism program for five years now. She said the setup has given them flexibility to explore the attractions.
Around 100 local tourists and balikbayans were taken to Cebu’s southern heritage structures and tourist destinations on board the Suroy-Suroy mini buses.
Each stop lasts about an hour or two, to enable guests to explore the mangrove sanctuary in Alcantara, Carcar’s museum, take souvenir photos at the Mantayupan Falls in Barili and taste the town’s ice cream.
Some took a dip in the waters of Kawasan Falls in Badian before proceeding for dinner on Moalboal’s beach.
“Before, we just go to one place, we eat and we can’t even enjoy the beauty of the town. We weren’t able to do this,” she told Cebu Daily News.
Pearson heads the Philippine Bisayan Society of Nevada, a group composed of Visayans in Las Vegas, US. She attends the Sinulog festival every year and the annual Suroy Suroy.
Impressed
The group she brought, mostly first-timers, were impressed and assured to come back with more friends.
Among them is 70-year-old Teresita Cobar who plans to bring her children from abroad.
“The pace is not so fast. Next time, I’ll bring my children who are in the States. We will probably join the one going to Camotes Island,” she said.
A live band entertained tourists while they were dining which was capped with a fireworks display. Tomorrow, guests will visit Sumilon island in the morning and the museum in Oslob.