The Russians are coming!

By Mila C. Espina

As predicted by the Tourism Department and Russian Consul Armi Garcia, the arrivals of Russian tourists in Cebu will definitely increase. This forecast was lengthily discussed in the CBM Tourism Congress in June 2008. The two trade missions conducted by the province of Cebu made this positive perspectives very fruitful manifested by an increasing interest in business and academic changes between Cebu and Russia.

And Cecille Saa of the Blue Horizons told me the good news that some 160 Russians arrived in Cebu for the annual Russian Orthodox New Year Charter on June 4, 2009. They spent three nights in Cebu and 8 to 10 nights in Boracay, and stayed until Jan. 17. Handler Blue Horizons Travel and Tours coordinated this yearly travel with the Tourism Department (Team Europe) through Verna Buensuceso and the Magellan Travel Agency and Krasnoyarsks, which has been sending Russians to the Philippines, specifically, Cebu. Cecille assured us that the Russians had a great time in our malls, beaches, hotel resorts and restaurants. In 1995, we visited Vladivostok and knew that the cultural taste of the Russians in wining, singing and dancing, as well as their penchant for investment and entrepreneurship, would sit well with our lifestyle.

The Koreans still love Cebu

We attended the Christmas shindig, and lately, the New Year and Sinulog bash of Korean Air, and the vivacity of the latter?s GM Paul Han and his entire staff, was incredibly infectious. We are likely to believe that the Koreans will stay on top of our tourism chart, despite the current decline of their arrivals in the late 2008 due to the global economic dilemma. Aida Uy of Cebu Fortune Travel has an enticing and affordable Korean package that is selling fast. Heard Zenaida Chua and Marget Villarica have their own Korean packages. Speechcom had some 14 Koreans who came to take up our English program and will be back next year. Our tours were done by Travelvision and Jenny Franco did a great job.

Suroy, Suroy 2009

From Jan. 21 to 23, the Suroy, Suroy Sugbu gathered local, foreign and balikbayans to relish the first of the 2009 series of Suroy, Suroy Sugbu which took us to Minglanilla, Naga, Carcar, Barili, Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara and Moalboal (Jan. 21); then to Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc, Ginatilan, Samboan, Santander and Oslob (Jan. 22); and finally Boljoon, Alcoy, Dalaguete, Argao, Sibonga, San Fernando and Talisay (Jan. 23). For more information, Tita Zosa in Capitol will be ready to entertain reservations and inquiries. The Southern Heritage Trail tops the list of options of Suroy aficionados.

Ms. Cebu 2009

Kris Tiffany Janson was crowned Ms. Cebu 2009 with her court, Rizzini Alexis Gomez, first runner-up; Therese Burden, second runner-up; Michelle Ive Eguia, third runner-up; and Tara Frances Oliver, fourth runner-up. It was a close fight between Kris Tiffany amd Alexis but I think the former was more natural and sweet, and the mestiza charm still counted a lot for the judges. Since 1984, the beauty pageant has always enhanced the best of the candidates, and in the ?90s, the production number became more colorful and meaningful.

The format hasn?t changed as years went by, but the recent years added more spectacular dance and song sequences as well as more sub-titles, like most beautiful skin, best smile, among others, to showcase the sponsors and make the competition more interesting. Junjet Primor and Philip Rodriguez have not lost their winning tandem. This year?s event was a homecoming for previous titleholders and finalists. The first Ms. Cebu Tourism Zontian Janice Minor was a standout. I was happy they acknowledged the pioneers like former CCTC chair Renato Osmena; commissioners Nelia Neri, Kit Borromeo, Eking Benedicto, MCE, Joseph Gaisano, Beth Reyes; and the pageant team of Nelia, Monette, Philip, Junjet and me who saw to it that the pageant maintained its classic features to look for the well-rounded Cebuana from its inception to 2001.

Thank you, too, Junjet, for including the ?Beautiful Cebuana? theme song Paul Melendez and I composed. And, Honey Loop, many thanks for seeing to it we get good seats to watch the pageant.