CEBU, Philippines - Starting July 24 this year, Compostela town will introduce Queseo Festival, a

new festival that would replace the old Caballo Festival.

The municipal council has approved an ordinance creating the festival which will serve as the official
festival of the town starting this year.
Vice Mayor Josephine Abing and members of the council agreed to change the towns festival as a
way to promote the towns known product.
Caballo started during the administration of former town mayor Antonio Dangoy in honor of the
towns patron saint Senyor Santiago Apostol who is portrayed as a horse rider.
The ordinance said the Cebu Provincial Government has institutionalized the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo
program by creating and approving an ordinance for such purpose, sponsored by provincial board
member Arleigh Sitoy.
The very purpose of such, the municipal council said, is to create tourism awareness and to
showcase all the municipalities.
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Suroy-suroy Sugbo, they said, is a vehicle and gateway to discover the many salient and distinct
qualities and tourist spots in many towns that could generate income once developed as tourist
destinations.
Suroy-suroy Sugbo started with out-going Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia.
The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has supported the program as it is also part of its
program to promote tourism.
The concept of Suroy-suroy has been cited as a great opportunity for all towns to endorse their
places and products.
Vice Governor-elect Agnes Magpale, chairman of the committee on tourism and served as acting
governor during the six month suspension of Governor Garcia strongly advocates the One Town,
One Product Policy.
The festivals that advertise the towns products are Argaos Torta Festival, Liloans Rosquillos
Festival, Consolacions Sarok Festival, Lapu-Lapus Guitar Production, Mandaues Bibingkas Festival,
and many more.
The municipal council said its now time for Compostela town to establish its own identity in the field
of tourism.
They said queseo production is already a part of the town of Compostelas culture.
In that way, we are promoting economic enterprise for our queseo makers, we are providing
livelihood to our farmers, we are promoting good health and healthy options to consumers by using
queseo as the best alternative for it does not pass through an artificial process, the ordinance
said. (FREEMAN)