Cebu City dubbed ‘City of Culture’

CEBU City was chosen as one of three “cities of culture” by the Asean Ministries of Culture,  along with Manila and Vigan.

The announcement was lauded by Cebu City officials.

Councilor Margot Osmeña said she would  sponsor a resolution to declare  July 15  a “Day of Culture” in Cebu City.

As chairperson of the council tourism committee, Osmeña said she talked with officials of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Center for the Culture and the Arts to discuss preparations for the July 15 awarding to be done in Cebu City.

“We have been doing the planning for two months already. People from Manila are coming to discuss the event,” she said.

Osmeña said the award gives recognition to Cebu’s culture, heritage and tradition.

“I feel proud and we are challenged,” she said (to promote  Cebuano culture).

The Asean Ministries of Culture wrote to the city government a few months ago about the award.

“The Philippines is the first country in Asia to be given this honor.  This is not a contest.  We were just chosen for the award,” said Osmeña.

Mayor Michael Rama agreed, saying the award brings honor to Cebu City.

Today also marks the opening  of the First Cebu Creative Industry Summit at the Cebu City Sports Club.

The activity, sponsored by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. with the Department of Trade and Industry in Central Visayas (DTI-7) is aimed at promoting awareness of the province’s creative industry in the local and global markets.

“It will offer an exchange on approaches to creative entrepreneurship and technopreneurship, on creative and innovative strategies for business excellence, growth and global competitiveness,” said DTI Cebu provincial director Nelia Navarro.

Navarro said the summit will also provide an overview of the global market potential for creative products, of finding one’s niche in the industry through innovation and many others. /Aileen Garcia-Yap and Edison delos Angeles