Tourism, creative industries to gain from yearlong activities

A year-long calendar of events will be mounted by Cebu City to enrich the creative and tourism industries after the city would be formally declared the first ASEAN City of Culture on July 15.

Organizers said they would adopt the unifying theme of Cebu as a center of Philippine creative industries and cultural

heritage.

Cebu is also positioned as  a regional destination for business and leisure tourism, and a center of Southeast Asian cosmpolitanism and cultural

diversity.

Several Asean ambassadors will be here for the launch on Friday at the Radisson Blu Hotel, said Cebu City Councior Margot Osmeña, chairperson of the council’s tourism committee.

For the rest of the year, traditional  events  like the Sinulog and new forums on culture will reinforce the yearlong celebration of Cebu City’s new title.

In August, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (Rafi),  will hold an exhibit on  Philippine Nationhood with focus on Cebuano heroes.

A lecture on  Southeast Asian civilizations and cultures, a Korean and Moon Cake Festival will be held on September.

October  will  feature a forum on Southeast Asian Literature, Asean Gent writers’ forum, Asean Gent artists’ forum, and Kids at the Museum.

In December is the annual  Pasko sa Sugbu followed by Sinulog festivities in January and an Asean Spirits Festival.

In February, an Asean Food Festival and the Xin Nian or  Chinese New Year will be celebrated.

March to May activities include the Asean Food Festival, Gabii sa Kabilin museum open house, Mountain Festival and Holy Week.

On July 2012, the Cebu City government and Rafi will launch a  Guidebook for Tour Guides of Cebu City’s Landmarks.

“Tourism activities among member countries will also be enhanced through cross-selling of cultural attractions and destination in the countries,” said Regional Director Aster Caberte of the Department of  Trade and Industry during the recent First Cebu Creative Summit last month.

Cebu City was selected from a list of possible culture cities for 2011 to 2012 after the Philippines was designated by AMCA+3 (including Japan, China and Korea which are active participants) to be the first host of the program aimed to enhance mutual participation among member countries in the areas of culture and arts, she said.

Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmeña said the formal declaration will be made in a lunch meeting on  Friday, July 15, at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

An exhibit of  Cebu’s best in fashion, jewelry, furniture and visual arts will be held at SM City’s Northwing at 3 p.m. and a cultural show at 5 p.m.

A party called “Kasadya sa Plaza” will be held and a dinner at the Rizal Memorial Library and Museum, said  Osmeña, who heads the Cebu City Council’s tourism committee.

On Saturday,  organizers will unveil a marker  at  Asean Friendship Garden in Family Park, Talamban, Cebu City. It will be followed by a tour in Cebu City’s heritage sites.

The Cebu City Tourism Commission also said in a statement that the Asean City of Culture logo of Cebu City is designed to show the city as a city of innovation, creative ideas and enviable resourcefulness.

The colors in the logo – yellow, green, blue and red –  portray the vast traits and lifestyle of the Cebuanos.

Yesterday,  organizers including Councilor Osmena, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Regional Tourism Director Rowena Montecillo, Petite Garcia of the Arts Council of Cebu, Rafi’s Dr. Jocelyn Gerra, Camp Cebu’s Zen Pastoriza and SM City Cebu’s Marissa Fernan announced schedule of activities for the Cebu City as Asean City of Culture 2011 program.