Have you ever been to Sugbu?

If you are one whose schedule makes you fail to comb your hair or check whether your earrings are still on both ears, or whether your lipstick has been retouched at all, the refreshing sights in Sugbu TV may invite you to take a break.

There are many delightful places to visit in Cebu and I have never even known they existed had it not been for Sugbu Channel 14.

The programs are varied and even though I may have missed watching some of them in the day, when I arrive home late in the evening the features still come refreshing with the lush green vegetation of the countryside in natural spas that are kept quietly in some nook in the South of Cebu. Or the exhilarating ride to Bantayan Island or Malapascua in the North.

Equally inviting are the translucent waters to Sumilon Island in the South that I knew in my youth to be Silliman Island, having for a time housed the marine sanctuary of Silliman University. I guess, the efforts of Dr. Angel Alcala, our biology professor who later became the Secretary for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources some time ago, were not wasted as we can see the variety of fish that languidly traverse the sea that bridges the mainland of Cebu to this small blue island.

There is much to experience in Cebu, and watching the Sugbu Channel has indeed made us see that we need not spend so much to have the pleasures that we search for in Bali or in Thailand if we only care to look and discover the secrets of our province.

Being an adopted Cebuana, I take pride Cebu’s being recognized as the foremost province in the country breaking away from the image of a shy provincial locale to an audacious and daunting culture. Cebu cradles the history of our nation and subtly, yet distinctly displays the strength of character among the Cebuanos.

The heritage tours that bring us to Carcar, Boljoon, Oslob and Santander in the south are echoed by the colorful festivals that depict the various religious and cultural progressions our province has been through in Medridejos, Medillen, and Daanbantayan.

There is still a vast expanse of hills and plains that need to be charted, and with every nuance of each place comes the flavorful delicacies that add flavor to every tour.

I am an avid listener of good stories with happy endings and the trip through Sugbu TV shows people smiling, welcoming, and unspoilt by the many cares of each day we face in business. Perhaps its time we plan that tour. Cebu would be a good place. It would not be so far from business, but would provide the respite needed to heal our soul.