Molobolo (Photo by Joy Flores-Ablanida)
By Joy Flores-Ablanida
For Yahoo! Southeast Asia
Taking a vacation need not always be expensive.
In the town of Tuburan, which is some 96 kilometers from Cebu City, the Molobolo Spring has been attracting tourists and slowly becoming a favorite hangout place for residents and visitors alike.
The discovery of the cold spring has changed this once quiet municipality in the midwestern part of Cebu.
Tuburan's name comes from the Visayan word "tubod," which means spring of water. It is no wonder then that Molobolo Spring is one of the town's natural gifts.
From the "tubod" flows cool and refreshing water, and the air is very fresh in the area. The local government built a rectangular pool as catchment for water from the spring. This is where visitors can take a dip in the freezing water.
If it's high tide, visitors can see the water from the cold spring flow to the sea.
Affordable trip
Going to Molobolo Spring will not cost much, which is a big plus for families and friends who are looking for a place where they could have fun together without spending too much.
Entrance fee is only P5.00 per adult and P2.00 for children aged seven to 10 years old. Parking rates are P100 for four-wheel vehicles and P25 for motorcycles.
Visitors have two options for cottages. They may rent small ones at P150 and the big cottages cost P300.
You may bring you own food at no cost, but a store near the entrance also sells snacks and drinks.
Souvenir items
If you can't resist buying souvenir items when visiting places, you would surely love the export quality jewelry boxes sold at the resort.
These jewelry boxes are made of colourful seashells. "These are natural seashells and not painted," said Zenaida Sayson, the vendor, in Cebuano.
Prices of these products vary in size. Small jewelry boxes cost between P30 to P50 while the big ones are sold from P100 to P200 each.
In the 2011 Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Explore the Midwest tour last June, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale led more than a hundred tourists to the spring.
Suroy Suroy Sugbo is the Provincial Government's tourism program featuring the best of Cebu's towns and cities -- both destinations and products. It is divided into four, namely the Northern Escapade, Southern Heritage Trail, Explore the Midwest, and Enchanting Camotes.
The recent Suroy Suroy Sugbo Explore the Midwest trip included the towns of Balamban, Asturias, Tuburan, Tabuelan, Aloguinsan, Pinamungajan, and the city of Toledo.
Getting there
Tuburan is bounded by Tabuelan in the north; Asturias in the south; Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, and Danao City in the east; and Tañon Strait in the west.
There are several routes going to Tuburan for private vehicles -- via Tabuelan to northern towns and via Toledo to southern towns. Another option is to take the transcentral highway going to Balamban.
Buses in both the north and south routes bound for Tuburan are available for commuters. Fare is P100 per person.
Other travelers meantime prefer to take vans-for-hire that use the trans-central highway route for faster travel. The vans park at the Ayala Center Cebu terminal. Van fare is P130 per person.
For further inquiries about Molobolo Spring and other attractions in the town of Tuburan, please contact the Mayor's Office at (032) 463-9318 or (032) 463-8085.
95 comments