Suroy-Suroy Sugbo 2015 gets participants’ praises

CEBU, Philippines - The five-tier Aguinid falls in Samboan town gained the spotlight among the new destinations of the three-day Suroy-Suroy Sugbo 2015 in the south.

Grace Paulino, Provincial Tourism Officer, said the stops received praises from the participants of the caravan with Aguinid falls placing as the ‘highlight’ of the activity.

For the foreign and local participants of the caravan, Aguinid falls is a good place for those who want to relax and look for adventures.

Lourdes Wing, a “balikbayan” from Canada, shared with The FREEMAN that she was amazed by its cascades and the serene environment.

She said she would invite her friends to the place the next time around and bring with her gear so she can enjoy swimming.

“I was not able to swim because I did not bring proper gear. But I climbed up until level two,” she added.

All levels of the Aguinid falls were just recently made accessible to visitors after it incurred damage from the recent calamities.

Further improving the facilities is being eyed for the place.

Wing, who has joined the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo program “many times,” commended this year’s staging of the activity, saying it’s getting better every year.

“Very positive. A lot of improvement, not so stressful because we only visited few towns. I had long time enjoying the ambiance of every place,” she said.

Paulino said despite minor problems, like one in Malabuyoc town where the tourist buses stuck for almost an hour in a muddy path in going to the town’s hot springs, everything went well.

She further said the goal of the southern trail was successfully met, which was to offer and discover new destinations every year.

“They, especially the second timers, appreciated what we did nga at least every year we offer something new,” Paulino added as she thanked the participants of the caravan.

“The pacing and timing of the tour was very okay and the destinations. They can really go around the town and interact with the community. This is a really good program to promote the towns of Cebu. We will try harder and harder to make the activity better,” she further said.

The Aguinid falls was just one of the 12 stops for this year’s Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, which concluded yesterday.

The activity kicked off Wednesday with Carcar City being the first stop. Participants were taken on a tour to the ancestral house of the Mancao’s built in 1933.

The caravan then proceeded to the town of Barili, located in the south western part of Cebu province and known for its sought-after two-level Mantayupan Falls.

The towns of Moalboal, Samboan, Alegria, Oslob, which known for its whaleshark watching, Boljoon and Argao were also among the destinations.

The three-day tour ended in Talisay City.

Lesser expenses

Paulino said this year’s Suroy-Suroy Sugbo has lesser expenses because of little workforce.

She explained that last year, they requested more security escorts from Philippine National Police and the Capitol Security.

“So naka-save ta sa accommodation kay karon, we just coordinated with local government units nga sila lang mag-provide og security,” she said. — Michael Vencynth H. Braga/NSA (FREEMAN)