One hundred sixteen international youth leaders from 36 Global Shapers Community hubs coming from 23 countries converged in Cebu City last Oct. 12 to 14 to discuss shared sentiments on the preservation, promotion and maximization of culture and heritage as a tool for sustainable development. This momentous local and global event was called “Shape Asia Pacific 2017: Embracing the Past to Shape Up the Future” and was hosted by the Global Shapers Cebu hub. The Cebu hub is composed of 16 young, empowered individuals from different fields that have come together to improve the state of their city.
The event focused on the host hub’s support for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) efforts to highlight UN’s subtarget 11.4, which aims to “strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage,” to the United Nations' 20 sustainable development goals agenda. A welcome dinner at BIG Hotel’s Kalea Hall opened the event on Oct. 12 with a cultural dance presentation by the multi-awarded San Diego Dance Company with entertainment from the Rondalla group of Pooc National High School.
On the second day, participants went on a curated hop-on, hop-off tour dubbed the CEBus Learning Tour. The Cebu Hub featured five local initiatives as concrete examples of how the city is using various aspects of its culture and heritage as tools for sustainable development in light of its hub pillars C.E.B.U. - C for Citizen Engagement, E for Environmental Conservation, B for Business Development and U for Universal Education.
The Citizen Engagement pillar took the participants to Qube Gallery to learn about Kadasig, a crowdfunding effort that aims to sustain and empower local songwriters to continue producing songs in their native language, Bisaya. The Environmental Conservation pillar led participants to the exhibit of Nature’s Legacy at Montebello Garden Hotel’s glass house, where the company featured their material innovation, Naturecast, a patented material that utilizes agroforestry scrap for decor, furniture, jewelry and construction materials. There were two speakers featured for the Business Development pillar: Kenneth Cobonpue, multi-awarded furniture designer and manufacturer, and Raquel Choa, known as the Philippines' first natural chocolate sommelier. The last stop was the Universal Education pillar at the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Office.
The second day of the event ended at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Banquet Hall with dinner and cultural presentations. A welcome address by Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III was also read during the start of the program. On its last day, the Shaper participants from different hubs became speakers and moderators in a series of conferences and synthesis session that tackled different issues on culture and heritage particularly those that deal with tangible and intangible heritage, cultural heritage in urbanization, and cultural heritage in the midst of migration. Speakers included Shapers like Aimee Dushime from Rwanda, Katrina Bayog from Iloilo, Namnandorj Bayaraa from Ulaanbaatar, and Mohammad Sammour from Jordan. The participants, together with community lead of the Global Shapers Community for Asia Shimer Diao, ended the event with a Community Night at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa.
The Global Shapers Community is the youth arm of the World Economic Forum. “Shape Asia Pacific 2017: Embracing the Past to Shape Up the Future” thanks its Platinum Sponsors: Cebu Landmasters, BIG Hotel, Kintar Group of Companies and Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa; Silver Sponsors: CWC, Wealthbank, UKC Builders, J. Abraham Construction and Nature’s Legacy; Bronze Sponsors: Islands Group of Companies, Kohler, Phelps Dodge, Creative Capital, Value Builders, Kone Elevators, Vic Enterprises, Diamond Interior, Edcon, QMix and Lyz Woodcraft; and Media Partners: SunStar Cebu and Cebu Daily News. Likewise, recognition and appreciation are also given to the Cebu Provincial Government, the pillar speakers, volunteers, participants, and the overall Cebu community. / PR