Dip in Kawasan waterfalls highlight of Capitol tour

CEBU, Philippines -  For the first time, the participants of this year’s Suroy Suroy Sugbo Southern Getaway were given the chance to dip into the cool waters of Kawasan Falls in Badian yesterday.

Around 20 foreign and local guests including children could not help but take a dip in the water for more than an hour of allowed stay at the place, while others enjoyed taking souvenir photos.

Unlike in the previous activities when suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia joined the participants all the way, no Capitol officials led the group to Kawasan Falls except the tour guides and some Capitol staff.

Acting Governor Agnes Magpale did not make the second day yesterday while Provincial Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy joined in Samboan but he did not go to Kawasan Falls.

Among those who enjoyed the waters was tour operator Alice Quiblatin who was impressed of what Kawasan Falls is now.

Quiblatin said that the experience joining other participants in the raft was so refreshing she really liked it.

“Hope this will remain this way,” Quiblatin said as she is also referring to the relaxing schedules to visit tourist spots this year.

A staff at Kawasan Nature Park Multi-Purpose Cooperative confided that they did not know Suroy Suroy Sugbo participants were coming. She said that in the previous activities, they were informed by the local officials.

Provincial Tourism Officer Grace Paulino confirmed they did not make prior notice as they did not get support from the local government of Badian.

The Provincial Government hired five multicabs to transport guests from national highway of Barangay Matutinao up to Kawasan Falls.

No local officials welcomed the guests but they just enjoyed the placed on their own.

William Fellows who is from San Francisco, USA but married to a Cebuana from Barili town also enjoyed the falls with his family.

It was the first time they joined the activity and he looks forward to joining in other areas like in northern Cebu and in Camotes Island soon.

“I hope you will promote this worldwide, it’s a beautiful trip,” Fellows said.

A US-based balikbayan, Rey Laping, and his wife were also impressed about the reception; the food and the relaxing time.

He said that the cost they paid was fair and they had the chance to meet other people.    

Kawasan Falls in Badian was reopened to the public last November after Garcia signed an order lifting the temporary closure of the southern town’s number one tourist attraction.

Garcia had ordered it closed last April 2012 after some of those who had built structures near the falls refused to voluntarily take down their improvements.

Kawasan was reopened after members of the Kawasan Falls Structure Owners volunteered to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Provincial Government so they could work together for the protection and development of one of Cebu’s famous tourist destinations. (FREEMAN)