Of Mayor Adelino Sitoy and Cordova A look upon one of Cebu’s fast rising Eco-Toursim spots

Cordova is a municipality near the center of the east coast of Cebu province. Cordova is also known for its “Bakasi Festival”(it was previously known as “Dinagat Festival”) in honor of an exotic eel abundant in Cordova. We met with the Mayor of Cordova himself—Mayor Adelino Sitoy—as he gave us a chance to interview him about the Bakasi Festival, his projects and about himself.

N: What is the fiesta’s theme for this year?

Mayor Sitoy: It’s “Cordova going Global”. It means we are now open to eco-tourism,which is also one of our main projects. Alta Cebu Village Resort, which is located in Pilipog, Cordova, is in charge of promulgating our eco-tourism efforts. Some of their projects include riding in a painted bangka (small boat), teaching the tourists how to paddle the baruto (barge), also how to fish safely during nighttime (it is easier to fish during nighttime because fish are attracted to light) and how to put bantak (traps) to capture bakasi.

Aside from eco-tourism, we also have projects regarding the beautification of our coastal area, the cleaning up of Pilipog river, and constructing a bridge across the river that may serve as the unloading and loading of people riding our boats.

N: Can you please tell us more about the Cordova Fiesta and its highlights?

Mayor Sitoy: The highlight is the Dinagat Bakasi Festival today, which would include street dancing. The dance is open to all. We have participants from all over the world like Koreans, Japanese and Norwegians. Of course, we also have guests from Cebu City and Danao City.

N: What makes Cordova different from other places in Cebu?

Mayor Sitoy: I myself am born in Cordova. My roots are located here. My uncle was a mayor here way back 1953, then after him was my brother, then my son (Arleigh) and now me. Suffice to say, our family’s leadership has been tested over and over again.

N: What could be the most difficult thing on being a mayor?

Mayor Sitoy: The job itself is time consuming. It is even more consuming than my law practice. Building strong relationships with people is important. It is also unlimited. I have meetings with different people and I also have to attend different conferences. I also have to find time to exercise since what I do the whole day is actual service.

N: What were some of Cordova’s old projects that you are still planning to continue?

Mayor Sitoy: We are still continuing with the Marine Sanctuary project. It covers a wide range of marine areas with some level of restriction to protect living, non-living, cultural, and/or historic resources. However, commercially speaking, it is open to bidding. But the control is retained by Cordova. We are also going to use the sanctuary to attract tourists, to give them more knowledge about the marine life and they can also feed them.

N:Let’s talk about Mayor Sitoy as a father. Is there a difference between being a father to your son (Arleigh) and being a father to the people of Cordova?

Mayor Sitoy: Main point is, when you are a mayor, you are being a father to thousands of “kids”,which is different from being a father to Arleigh since he is my only child.

N: How do you bond with your son?

Mayor Sitoy: Despite my busy schedule, I still manage to squeeze a little time to communicate with Arleigh and go ballroom dancing with him.

N: With regards to raising your son, have you learned something that is applicable to managing Cordova?

Mayor Sitoy: If there is one thing that is vital, it’s the fact that education is important and must be prioritized. My parents are both public school teachers and there are nine of us. I am the eldest. And yet, they managed to make all of us graduate. I am the lawyer, two of my siblings are nurses, one is also a teacher, another is a doctor, we have three engineers (Chemical, Computer and Mechanical) and an architect. As a tribute to the people of Cordova, I also put up scholarships that will benefit them. Currently, we have 29 college scholars around Cebu.