No officials mean less festive Suroy for repeat tourists

SINCE local officials were discouraged from campaigning during the Suroy Suroy tours, only one mayor was on hand to welcome the participants of the three-day Suroy tour in Camotes Island.

“Some of the participants especially the second timers, asked where they were. It was their (local government officials) personal choice not to attend. We didn’t give any instructions,” Provincial Tourism Officer Grace Paulino said.

During the stopovers in Camotes, there were no presidential tables nor political speeches from local officials.

Only Poro Mayor Luciano “Boy” Rama was on hand to greet participants who arrived in the town last Saturday.

“We want the participants to mingle and interact with the people. Ang tendency is if there’s a presidential table the people would be embarrassed to approach them,” Paulino said.

One of the participants, Rolly Labrador, 62, said the absence of local government officials welcoming the group made the tour “less festive.”

Labrador, a balikbayan and retiree from Anaheim, California, compared this year’s Camotes trail to previous Suroy-Suroy tours he attended which had a lot of participating government officials.

“Before, we were welcomed by a lot of officials who shook our hands. There were also children who wave flags beside the road welcoming us,” he said.

Some of them were dismayed that no local officials welcomed them during stopovers.

However, they said they enjoyed the food offered in every town and had more time to explore on their own and enjoy the amenities in their designated resorts.

The Suroy-Suroy Camotes trail started last Saturday and ended yesterday, marking the first time the Camotes trail was done for three days and two nights.

Participants visited the island’s different tourist attractions which include Lake Danao Park, Bukilat Cave, Poro Sto. Nino Church, Buho Rock Resort, Santiago Bay Garden and Resort and Mangodlong Rock Resort.

They were also treated to various local delicacies and were welcomed by cultural presentations in the towns of San Francisco, Poro and Tudela.

Earlier this month, independent vice gubernatorial candidate Glenn Soco requested Provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) Supervisor Eddie Aba to postpone the Suroy-Suroy in Camotes after the elections.

Soco said he feared that the tour will be used by Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale to campaign for votes. Magpale was not seen during the Camotes tour.

“With or without a local, the tour will proceed for tourism promotion. It’s really to help the towns” Paulino said. Correspondent Jose Santino S. Bunachita