New playground opens at Plaza Independencia

TWELVE-year-old Chris John Lopez grew up in the pier area with the streets as his playground.

Yesterday, he and  other children in San Roque, Cebu City were excited  with the inauguration of a  new playground in the renovated Plaza Independencia.

“Sukad kaniadto, karon pa gyud ko makaduwa-duwa og tarung nga playground (It’s only now that I was able to play in a proper playground)”, Lopez said.

The site called  Colin’s Play area is located near  Fort San Pedro.

The children’s slides were donated by Senior Trade Commissioner Ellen Ruth Zeisler of the Consulate General of Canada while  other amenities were given to the Cebu City Parks and Playground Commission through the Vicsal Foundation Inc. of the Gasiano family.

The formal opening was attended by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Edward Gaisano and his son Jason of Vicsal Foundation, officials of the Parks and Playground Commission, among others.

More playground equipment like a merry go  round,  swings, see-saws, and monkey bars will be installed later, according to Mayor Rama.

Why the Colin’s Play Area?

Mayor Rama said this project is named after Zeisler’s 7-year-old son who died of an arterial disease.

Zeisler’s husband was  born in Cebu and they often visited Cebu.

“Colin was very at home in Cebu, he loved Cebu”, Rama said.

Mayor Rama said children can  enjoy the playground for free.

“This is not just for the Sinulog. I want the kids to enjoy  the new playground”, he said.

Rama said the Parks and Playground Commission will maintain the  facility. /Jhunnex Napallacan, Correspondent