Cebu hailed Asean ‘City of Culture’

Ambassadors of six Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member states stood witness as Mayor Michael Rama accepted a certificate from Asean ministers of culture and the arts conferring the title “City of Culture” for two years on Cebu City.

Olivia Palala, executive director of the Office of the Asean Affairs in the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday handed over the certificate in a ceremony that also featured Asean dances in Radisson Blu Hotel.

Palala said that aside from its world class furniture, hotels and beaches, Cebuanos’ flawless command of the English language made the city deserving of the title.

“When it comes to creative industries there are clear indicators that here in the Philippines the one city that has figured in international design, competitions in furniture and in so many things is Cebu,” said Eva Mari Salvador of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Ambassadors of Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Indonesia and the Second Secretary of China attended the ceremony.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the accolade is a challenge for Cebu City to continue to promote its creative industry.

Councilor Margot Osmeña said the title pays tribute to “the sunny disposition of our people, Cebuanos… who are fiercely competitive, who are able to work… for the good of all.”

“This is a testament to our ‘can do’ spirit,” Osmeña said.

Cebu, Manila and Pampanga became the first localities to hold the distinction of being “culture capitals” in southeast Asia in a program the ministers designed to promote the region to the world.

The Asean ministers already eyed Cebu as City of Culture while the project was being conceived in Myanmar in 2008, Salvador said.

The title will bring more investors and tourists from Asean to Cebu City for various events, she said.

“Many of the activities will be funded by the Asean countries themselves or the Asean organization itself. The investment that Cebu has made especially in this activity is going to come back 10 times,” Salvador said.

Cities in all 10 Asean member nations will take turns as culture capital for two years.

Local businessmen, furniture, film and fashion industry icons also attended yesterday’s ceremony.