Wednesday, December 06, 2006 Showcasing Cebu thru CICC
PRESIDENT Arroyo’s room at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) and the meeting rooms of heads of state are now furnished with “millions of worth” of items that the Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation (CFIF) is lending the Capitol for two weeks.
For Eric Ng, vice president of the CFIF and president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, what they are doing for the CICC is “the best showcase” for their industry as they are already “like having a show for the highest dignitaries.”
The pieces of furniture, mostly made of indigenous materials and showcasing Cebu’s craftsmanship, are ready for shipment but 19 selected companies agreed to let the Provincial Government borrow these for the Asean summit.
Ng expects to finish their “final touches” in all rooms by Dec. 7, the day before Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal will bless the CICC.
The Capitol is preparing a glass marker to dedicate the structure to the Cebuanos who “rose to a difficult challenge, defied seemingly insurmountable odds, exceeded all common expectations and seized the opportunity of a century that presented itself.”
Tribute
“This structure stands as a tribute to the Cebuanos’ ingenuity, industry, enduring faith and indomitable spirit to serve as an inspiration for the world,” the glass marker will read.
Preparation for the Philippine hosting of the Asean summit is shortest in Asean history, Asean spokesman and Ambassador to Malaysia Victoriano Lecaros had said.
This is because Myanmar was supposed to be this year’s host but it begged off because of internal problems, cutting one year of Philippine preparations.
The opening ceremony of the Asean summit will be held at the CICC, which will have a light-up ceremony tonight, when delegations from the cities of Lapu-lapu, Mandaue and Cebu will converge.
‘Jewel’
The CFIF is also handling the furnishings of the eight suites and the dining room at the Shagri-la’s Mactan Island Resort & Spa, where the meeting of leaders will be held.
Ng said they have longed for a space for their exhibits and called the CICC a “jewel” in Cebu where they will have international expos.
Organizers forego having country rooms where each Asean member-country is assigned at the CICC.
What the CICC will have are: (first floor, right wing) the leaders’ lounge, the room for the chief of protocol, the dining room for the leaders, and the rooms for senior officials and senior executive officials.
At the left wing of the first floor is a room for Arroyo and two others for her bilateral meetings. Also in the same area are the conference room and office of the media affairs.
Flags
Placed at the lobby of the second floor, near the escalators, are flags of the Asean member-countries.
The 74-booth International Broadcast Center and its control room, as well as the main briefing room where at least 60 computers are already in place, is also on the second floor.
Some members of the foreign media already arrived, such as that of Malaysia and Japan.
In response to some militant groups who continue to criticize the CICC yesterday, with one reportedly having “exorcism” rites, Garcia enumerated the different projects of her administration and asked, “You self-anointed protectors of the poor, what have you done for the poor?” (JPM)
