Tukis bring good business in Oslob

In a span of a few months, the friendly whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) placed the once sleepy town of Oslob in the tourism map.

And these gentle giants of the sea, locally known as tuki has made businessgood.

Oslob store owner Gloria Bacalso considers the gentle whale sharks as blessings.

The 59-year old mother said the sales of her store, which opened on March 23, 2011 just shoot up when the tuki became popular.

“Before, hinay gyud. Dako na ang 1,000 kada adlaw (Before, the sale was really slow. 1,000 pesos is already big for us),” she said.

Aside from selling the usual consumer goods, her store now sells T-shirts with tuki designs for P350. Her “Buy 3 shirts, get a free tuki-designed mug” promo has been a hit.

“Now that the tuki attraction is booming, I sell many shirts and items. Just last Black Saturday, we were able to generate P20,000. On ordinary days, our sales is at the P7-8,000 level,” she said.

A wife of a ‘pedicab’ driver and mother of six children, Bacalso said that she now has extra income for her children’s education and to pay for their bills.

Meanwhile, the tuki tourism has also provided good barbecue business to Estela Dorens and beach resort owner, Neville Behin, an Australian.

Dorens, 30, said that the overwhelming number of tourists made her start her barbecue business four months ago. Her barbecue stall located just outside the Whale Shark Watching Briefing Center, Dorens said that the tuki really made her small business prosper.

“I get 3,000 pesos during normal days. But I was able to generate 5,000 pesos during the holidays because many people really came here for the tuki,” she said in Cebuano.

For Australian married to a Filipina, Neville Behin everything changed with the arrival of the whale sharks.

“I turned my private beach property into a resort because so many people would like to visit and see the whale shark everyday. I’d like to share and give them a chance to see the whale sharks,” he said.

He said prior to the arrival of the gentle giants, Oslob was already known for its beautiful countryside, the scenic views, its beaches and its nice people.

Aaron’s Beach Resort wears the shades of blue all over the place and is named after his only son. It was opened to the public 4 months ago right after the whale sharks of Oslob became popular.

He said during peak seasons, they could generate about P15,500.00.

The resort has also provided jobs for many Oslobanons. He currently has 25 employees who are in-charge of taking care of the facilities and manning the dive and souvenir shop.

His resort charges P100 entrance fee per person. Cottages and rooms are also available with prices ranging from P500-P1,500 pesos per night.

“We are working on a lot of things to make Oslob an entertaining place for everyone,” Behins added.

“Kining dapita gitagaan sa Ginoo ug grasya, if dili tarungon ug gamit, kuhaon jud na. (This place was blessed by God. If these blessings wont be used properly, He will take it away),” Bacalso said. /Sean Timothy Salvador, UP Cebu Intern