No whale sharks but food, sites enough for tourists

Guests of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo dropped by Oslob town yesterday but had no time to experience the town’s newest tourist attraction, whale shark watching.

It wasn’t on the itinerary but tourists still had their fill visiting historical churches and tasting merienda delicacies like budbud, bananacue, hot chocolate and tostado in the southern Cebu tour.

In barangay Tan-awan, Oslob, a private beach resort was already full with divers and other tourists waiting to get a close view of whale sharks that frequent the coast line, an activity that is the subject of a new municipal ordinance that seeks to regulate the enterprises cropping up and to ensure protection of the marine animals.

Each town on the itinerary prepares a welcome with dancers in colorful outfits.

Most of the 350 participants of this year’s Suroy-Suroy package are balikbayans from Las Vegas, Nevada and Canada who came to Cebu for the Sinulog.

They were excited to see the whale sharks but the caravan’s itinerary only allowed them to drop by the area and not actually experience it.

Victoria Bueno, a nurse working in Las Vegas, said she was enjoying the tour very much with her daughter, who was born and raised in the United States. It was Rachel’s first time to visit the Philippines.

“It’s really excellent. It is very well prepared and everyone is having fun,” Bueno told Cebu Daily News.

She last visited the countryside about 20 years back.

“The roads have improved and I think the way of life here has really improved,” she said.

Rachel, who is in her early 20s, said the culture was very rich but admitted that she had to adjust because she is used to a busy lifestyle in Las Vegas.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale led the Suroy-Suroy.

In Santander, tourists were able to bake their own tostado, a local delicacy of the town made of eggs, flour and oil and baked in a traditional oven.

“It’s fun and interactive,” said Susie Mangubat, a second-time guest of the Suroy-Suroy.

“We don’t have complaints except that we would have wanted to join the fluvial parade last Sinulog. We hope that next time, they will include it in the package,” she said.

Guests stayed overnight in Moalboal town and will continue the journey back to Cebu City later this afternoon.