Rama says Cebu can adopt ‘more fun’ slogan

Cebu City can take a page from the national government’s new tourism slogan by promoting itself as a fun place to be especially during the Sinulog.

Mayor Michael Rama said this amid reports that Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. will come to Cebu City to attend the Sinulog festivities.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) recently adopted the slogan “ It’s more fun in the Philippines.”

“Cebu City and the province can adopt the slogan ‘It’s always fun in Cebu. Be in Cebu,” Rama said as he described the Sinulog as the “mother of all festivals” in the country.

Aside from Sinulog, Rama said Cebu has the Señor Sto. Niño and its rich culture which both enriches and sets the province apart from others in the country.

“When you talk about history, there is always so much to talk about of Cebu. That’s why they’re (tourists) here, not just for the Sinulog but for the Sto Niño,” he said.

Rama said the nine-day Sinulog festival and the ever “smiling and amiable” character of Cebuanos always win over tourists from all over the country and abroad.

The mayor said he is still waiting for confirmation from the Palace on the arrival of President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay for the Sinulog Grand Parade next Sunday.

“Security preparations have already been done before so it’s just a matter of repeating it… Whether they come or they will not, we have always been ready,” he said.

The President made a brief stopover in Cebu City to attend last year’s Sinulog, delivering a speech and watching the performances of contingents from Cebu and out-of-town after the parade for more than an hour.

Stringent security enforced by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) scrapped a scheduled press conference as local media were barred from interviewing the President. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus