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Saturday, November 26, 2005
Dazzling artistry at SEA Games opening
By Rene H. Martel and Jade S. Violeta
CEBU CITY -- Cebu opened the 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Friday with pomp and pageantry that had organizers and officials saying it was a successful "test case" for Cebu City as host of next year's Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit.
And in the next few days when athletes from 11 countries compete in six events Cebu is hosting, Cebuanos are urged to watch and cheer for the Philippine team and show the hospitality they are known for.
"The host here is not the government. It is the Cebuanos. I hope they will watch the games and support Team Philippines," said Cebu City Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem, a member of the Cebu SEA Games organizing committee (Cebu-Soc).
Cebu is among the three satellite venues-along with Bacolod and Subic Bay Freeport-of the November 27 to December 5 meet. Pencak silat will be held at the Cebu Coliseum; judo and karatedo, Mandaue Sports Center; sepak takraw, University of San Carlos gym; mountain bike, Danao City; and dancesport, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
A beaming Mayor Tomas Osmeña revealed shortly after Friday night's six-minute fireworks display that Cebu City will host next year's Asean summit.
The SEA Games welcome ceremony, he said, served as the "rehearsal" for the city in staging the important meeting of Asean leaders.
The formal opening started at 4 p.m. with a parade from Fuente Osmeña to the Cebu City Sports Center, where a huge stage, 11 wide screens and more than 20,000 spectators waited for the contingents from 11 countries.
Dance troupes from different colleges and universities led the contingents. They were dressed in the national costume of the countries they escorted, as they danced to the Sinulog beat.
Performances of different festivals in Cebu highlighted the event, which started at 5 p.m. and ended two hours later.
"The Southeast Asian Games is an excellent venue for Filipino athletes to exhibit their talents, agility and excellence in the various field of sports. May the spirit of the games be of healthy competition, heartfelt dedication and discipline, and instill a deep sense of honor and pride among all the athletes and participants," Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said in her message.
First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, GSIS president Winston Garcia, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Frank Benedicto, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez, Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano, and Danao City Mayor Ramon Durano III attended the welcome ceremony.
Cebu City will be preparing for the Asean summit next.
Nagiel Bañacia, City Hall public information officer, said that aside from the 11-member Asean, China, Japan and South Korea would join the summit.
At least 57 pre-conference international gatherings will also be held here, and Cebu City will have its hands full in terms of ensuring security of the guests.
Police Regional Office 7 Deputy Regional Director for Administration Ronald Roderos, in a separate interview, said they would be ready for the event.
At least 900 uniformed and plainclothes policemen secured the Cebu City Sports Center.
The two-hour spectacle of dances, lights and color last night should make all Cebuanos proud, Cebu-Soc production staff consultant Ricky Ballesteros said.
Cebu-Soc chairman Jonathan Guardo said in a separate interview that although Cebuanos are by nature partisan, he sees no problem that will arise when they root for the home team.
Mayor Osmeña has a different concern. He said some people might create trouble.
"We need the cooperation of everybody. People will try to make trouble here. But we will fight back. We just need the people's cooperation down to the sitio level," he said. (Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
(November 26, 2005 issue)
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