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Thursday, February 23, 2006
Cebu is definitely Asean summit host
CEBU CITY -- Even before she saw what the Cebu City Government has prepared for the Asean summit, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo confirmed and announced with finality that Cebu will host the meeting of Asian leaders in December.
Impressed with Wednesday night's show, which was likened to the "Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans mardi gras," Asean organizing committee officials lauded the City Government for its preparations.
Arroyo announced that three key cities in the province will host Southeast Asian leaders and their dialogue partners later this year, shortly before seeing what Cebu has prepared for the 5,000 delegates expected here.
"I'm very happy that come December, Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City will be the host to 18 heads of state all over the region and I hope that what I have come to see and love in the people of Cebu, they will also come to see and love," she told a cheering crowd of some 15,000 Cebuanos who attended the Charter Day revelry.
The City mounted a P2.8-million production number to show Arroyo and other National Government officials that Cebu is ready to host the event.
"I feel honored to announce to the whole country that Cebu City can work together and I am proud to show, as what all of you have shown tonight, that Cebu City can put its act together. I'm very proud to be the mayor of this city," Mayor Tomas Osmeña said.
Arroyo's announcement dispelled Osmeña's suspicions that the President may be having doubts on the venue of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit.
Some 1,130 dancers in colorful costumes and props, including the mayor's wife Margot and Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, performed the dances of the 17 participating countries before the President and some Cabinet members.
Tourist destinations, food and other Cebuano culture and traditions were flashed in the 10 wide screens mounted on the stage.
While he was impressed with the presentation, over-all organizing committee head for the summit Jun Paynor sees the need to verify whether the costumes and dances presented by the performers are indeed those of the countries they represented.
Paynor and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Frank Benedicto said he was impressed with the performance of Tribu Basakanon of Barangay San Nicolas, who wowed the crowd with their improved presentation of their Sinulog number.
"The presentation was really very nice and well prepared, more particularly the Tribu Basakanon. That I think was very impressive... I think as far as this presentation is concerned, it's very nice. It's something we can present to our visitors. I think it would impress them," Paynor told reporters after the program.
He added that Wednesday night's spectacular show of Asian culture and traditions would remind foreign visitors of the Mardi gras in Brazil and New Orleans in the United States.
When asked how he would rate Cebu's preparation last night in a scale of one to 10, Paynor said he would give it a rating of nine.
Paynor refused to comment on the needed revisions in the program, since "he still has to digest what he saw," but he said the dances have to be reviewed.
"We have to check with the embassies of each country and I think they already did, and I think this has already been validated that these are in fact dances of each country... But immediately I saw the one of Brunei where there are slits in the back, they don't show their ankles. That is something the Bruneians might perhaps take offense to. They will not say it but I think they will," he said.
Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, Government Media Group Head Cerge Remonde and United Nations' Representative to the country Nilsema Noble also saw the presentation at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Before the grand finale number, Osmeña conferred the "Anak sa Sugbo" title on Arroyo, which he said is the City's way of showing appreciation for the numerous projects she gave the city.
Arroyo said her new title brings much pride and joy to her, and that she will continue to work on becoming a better daughter of Cebu and in serving the Cebuanos.
The Rajah Humabon Lifetime Achievement Award was also conferred on Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal "for his advocacy on peace and justice and his defense of moral principles."
Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. received the same award for his public service and the reforms he instituted in the Judiciary during his term.
Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao also received the mayor's special award, as well as 19 other outstanding individuals and institutions.
The event was aired live on national television and in other countries across Asia and Middle East and in Australia and United States. (LCR of Sun.Star Cebu)
(February 23, 2006 issue)
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