CEBU - The Cebu provincial government will once again organize a Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Heritage Trail where 19 municipalities and three cities will be showcased.
Provincial Board Member Agnes Magpale, chairwoman of the Committee on Tourism, said that hundreds of balikbayans have already booked for the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo tour through the Sinulog Foundation.The Suroy-Suroy Sugbo trail is slated for January 21 to 23, 2009.
“I find it cute that Suroy-Suroy is now as popular as Sinulog,” Magpale said.
The Sinulog festival was organized in 1980 by then Minister of Youth David “Boy” Odilao, while Suroy-Suroy was established in 2004 by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
It was only the following year when the provincial government’s Tourism and Heritage Council took it over.
The Suroy-Suroy Sugbo has five components —the Northern Escapade, the Southern Heritage Trail, Enchanting Camotes, the Urban Adventure and Explore the Midwest.
Senator Richard Gordon is reportedly one of those set to join the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo on January 22.
The upcoming Southern Heritage Trail is said to be more exciting after organizers agreed to change the route. Instead of visiting towns from the southeast to southwest they will do this southwest to southeast.
Clarita Zosa of the Tourism and Heritage Council explained that the change was done for the benefit of the balikbayans joining the Southern Heritage Trail for the second and third time. The municipalities included in the trail will also feel the effect of the changes implemented as municipalities which served before as the last stop will now become the first stop and vice-versa.
Also, the municipalities will bring the tourists to sites they were not able to showcase before. — Garry B. Lao/BRP (THE FREEMAN)