|
Friday, February 10, 2006
GMA sked forces City to move rites to Feb. 22
ACTIVITIES for the Cebu City Charter Day celebration may not be held as planned after Mayor Tomas Osmeña rescheduled the event two days earlier to accommodate President Arroyo.
Osmeña is also not certain if boxing champion Manny Pacquiao will attend the program since he will still be in the US by Feb. 24, although he reportedly assured the mayor he will do his best to make it.
The Charter Day awarding ceremony and the conferment of the “Anak sa Sugbo” title on the President will be held on Feb. 22, a Wednesday, instead of Feb. 24.
The mayor said that as of yesterday, he is not sure yet how the multi-million production number would be presented if the event will be in the afternoon.
2 days early
“Charter Day will definitely be moved to the 22nd but we’re not sure about the time. I’m trying to do it in the evening so we can have a real dress rehearsal for the Asean summit but the President said it might be difficult (for her) to make it in the evening but she will try,” Osmeña said.
Pacquiao, who is supposed to sing in the grand finale of the program, already agreed to be here on the 24th but now that the event was rescheduled, the mayor said he can only hope his idol will still be able to join the celebration.
Osmeña announced the changes in his news conference yesterday, saying the program would depend on the schedule of the President since she will be available in the afternoon only.
“I said if we do it in the afternoon, we can save a lot of money simply by not going through the televised process. We’ll be able to save up to a million pesos but that’s not the point. The point is we really have to practice for the summit and the President has to see it,” he said.
The mayor decided to hold the Charter Day celebration two days earlier in order to adjust to the schedule of Arroyo, who will be in Cebu on Feb. 22 for a meeting with business leaders.
P3M program
City Hall will spend some P3 million for production numbers during the program, which will serve as rehearsal for the programs the City is planning for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in December.
The amount will be sent for the lighting, props, equipment, production numbers and manpower needed to mount a spectacular production number that will show the President that Cebu City is prepared to host the summit, the mayor said.
Osmeña also decided to formalize the title the City Government will confer on the President, “since it sounds a little awkward to call her adopted daughter.”
Instead of the “Adopted Daughter of Cebu” title, Arroyo will be given the “Anak sa Sugbo” award during the program, along with awarding of 20 other outstanding individuals and companies. (LCR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 10, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here.
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
