Leaders of 10 nations met in Cebu over the weekend to discuss counter-terrorism, free trade, migrant workers, and a charter that can lead to a European Union-style alliance.
The public didn’t see bureaucrats work over agreements that were to be signed.
What the public saw were preparations by host cities: cleaning up, beautifying, building, re-painting, setting up street cameras, bringing in more troops.
Kept out
It’s like letting visitors into the house who talk in guarded rooms, with the rest of the household, including some hosts, being kept out.
Gov. Gwen Garcia greeted heads of state at the door but didn’t get in. From host country, only President Glo (who presided) and Speaker Joe de Venecia (who gave a report), with Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar, were allowed at the Asean leaders’ meeting.
“This is not my summit,” lamented a host mayor.
But that’s how summits go.
The public doesn’t see much up close. And delegates see only the places where they sleep, confer in, or pass by in motorcades (did they see those painted shanty roofs near Mactan-Mandaue bridge?)
The summit isn’t for the public but its conventions can touch peoples of the region for years to come.
