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Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Best summit so far, delegates say
By Jeanette P. Malinao & Minerva B. Gerodias
CEBU CITY -- As the East Asian leaders' gathering came to a close Monday, officials from other countries said Cebu not only equaled international standards in hosting, but probably set the standards higher. Ahmad Shahizan Samad, deputy director-general of Asean-Malaysia, said Cebu has done an "extremely superb and excellent" hosting of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit.
Sun.Star Network Online's 12th Asean Summit Watch
"The traditions of Asean summits were all there, but I have to say you really set the standards now in terms of organizing and performance," Samad said in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu.
Samad was with the special adviser to Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as he went around and bought Cebu products from the exhibits at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) where the East Asia summit, the biggest among the recent gathering of leaders in Cebu, was held.
Host staffers start removing the flags of member nations as the summits end.
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After she bade farewell to the heads of state and government, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said in her press conference at the CICC: "Our people put their best foot forward for the whole regional neighborhood. Daghang salamat, Sugbo."
Aesthetics
Bhagwant Bishnoi, deputy chief of the Indian mission in Bangkok, also said it was "the best summit so far."
"Cebu has set a new standard. Our apprehension now is I'm sure our leaders will tell us to replicate what Cebu has done in terms of hosting," he told Sun.Star Cebu.
Bishnoi said he noticed that the materials used to spruce up the venues were not expensive but the "aesthetic sense that the Filipinos are known in the world for is extremely evident in every aspect."
He told Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia that they took pictures of the various summit venues, which he described as "breathtakingly beautiful, very exotic and the best we've ever seen," so they will have ideas on what to do when it is their turn to host summits. But beyond the physical preparations, Bishnoi told Sun.Star Cebu they were awed by the "warmth and courtesy" with which the Cebuanos greeted them everywhere his delegation went.
"I went to a store to buy a beer, and four people greeted me in unison. And there are no overcharging issues at all," he added.
Surprised
Governor Garcia attributed the success of the summit to the collective effort of so many Cebuanos. "I just pitched in to do my share. It shows that Cebuanos can unite to showcase the best of what we have. Most importantly, we proved that we can do it and we can do it again," Garcia said.
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Luis Cruz, who was in charge of the preparations for the substantive issues, said they only did everything they could in the tradition of Filipino hospitality.
"We are pleased with the reactions of participants of the summit, they were really surprised," Cruz told Sun.Star Cebu. At least three first ladies who witnessed a Battle of Mactan reenactment and joined a two-hour tour of Cebu City were so impressed with Cebu, they plan to make private visits here, according to First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.
"The spouses enjoyed a lot. They found the city bus tour very unique. They found the Filipinos so friendly and loving," Mr. Arroyo said. "The committee worked hard. Their hard work paid off," he said.
The Cebu sub-committee on the spouses' program is chaired by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Francisco Benedicto and co-chaired by Cebu City First Lady Margot Osmeña.
The spouses were first treated to a reenactment of the Battle of Mactan last Saturday and had lunch at the Mactan Shrine.
On Sunday, they unveiled the marker of the Asean Friendship Park in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City and went on a bus tour that included the Cebu Capitol, Colon St. and Magellan's Cross. Dancers performed at each stop to display the Sinulog and other Cebuano festivals. The spouses were then treated to lunch and a fashion show, featuring Cebu-made products, at the Capitol social hall. (Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio.
(January 16, 2007 issue)
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