Margot O. to push Cebu's "Pocket of Beauty" series

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City councilor Margot Osmeña aims to spearhead the establishment of Cebu’s “pocket of beauty” series to support the vibrant tourism outlook projected for this year.

Osmeña, who is also the chairperson of Committee on Tourism, and Commission on History and Arts, announced that a budget to rehabilitate the “Plaza Hamabar” has already been approved, and that the project will start immediately as soon the funds will be released.

Plaza Hamabar is now a favorite dating place for lovers on Mabini Street. It is a multi-purpose park near the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral where the statue of Rajah Humabon, also known as Raja Hamabar is erected. Humabon was Cebu’s chieftain when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan landed on Cebu’s shores to bring Christianity to the island.

However, she admitted the fact, that the release of the budget may take time, knowing the long process of papers to be signed.

The former Cebu City first lady said that Cebu should start identifying its “pocket of beauty” as it is becoming a “world-class” tourism destination.

“We have to give good memories to our visitors,” she said adding that adopting the ‘pocket-of-beauty’ concept could help the City maximize its tourism potential.

Osmeña acknowledged that just like any other popular destinations in the world—these destinations have their share of “ugly areas”, but they emphasized on promoting their “pocket-of-beauty.”

China, France and other countries are doing this concept. Cebu, on the other hand, can start its own.

Osmeña recently had an informal dialogue with the tourism stakeholders led by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), and other representatives from tourism related organizations, such as the Cebu Association of Travel Operators (CATO), National Association of Independent Travel Associations (Naitas), and others to get suggestions and comments from the stakeholders.

Part of the plan, according to Osmeña is to invite small communities in Cebu City to adopt their own “pocket-of-beauty” within their respective localities.

The Fuente Osmeña Circle is one of the possible areas that will be identified for another rehabilitation to pursue this project, she added.

“Fuente [circle] could be improved some more,” she said.

This idea was adopted by Osmeña through the suggestion of Cebu Investment and Promotion Center (CIPC) managing director Joel Mari S. Yu.

Ealier, Yu has been urging the Cebu City government to start establishing and identifying Cebu’s “pocket-of-beauty.” Yu said this project, could make Cebu a “beautiful City” in the memories of tourists.

“Eventually, we will become a ‘pretty City,” said Osmeña, who is also starting to develop another tourism related idea of providing “Hop-On/Hop-Off” Bus Tours within Cebu City.

Tourism stakeholders hope to set more dialogue with Osmeña in the coming days, to maximize Cebu’s potential in the tourism sector.

In December last year, The Cebu City council approved the resolution of Osmeña to allocate P1.5 million for improvement of the Plaza Hamabar. Such amount will be taken from the capital outlay item of the P1.3 billion Supplement Budget No.5.

Based on Osmeña’s resolution, the redevelopment and maintenance of Plaza Hamabar is necessary, considering that it is also one of the most historical plaza’s in the City. (FREEMAN)