Great Cebu Tabo opens today

CEBU, Philippines - Along with the chamber's thrust to promote Cebu as a potential shopping hub in the country, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) will officially open its Great Cebu Tabo - "Tatak Cebu" weekend market at Islands Pasalubong outlet across Magellan's Cross in downtown Cebu City today.

This is part of the newly-launched program of the chamber which is the "Cebu in the Bag: Island Madness Sale" that is envisioned to be institutionalized as an annual event.

According to Maria Camille Villareal-Aldeguer, chair of the "Cebu In the Bag: Island Madness Sale, the Great Cebu Tabo is a shopping event that will showcase the best of Cebu's shopping choices and will further attract foreign and local consumers.

From June 28 to 30, the Great Cebu Tabo will serve as a one-stop shop for products showcased by towns as part of the One-Town-One-Product of the Department of Trade and Industry.

It will also feature products of local retailers, exporters, Carbon market vendors, organic farmers and producers in the province.

Aldeguer further cited that aside from the flagship stores Islands Souvenirs and islands Pasalubong, there will be 25 additional participants from the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector.

She noted that this will be an appropriate avenue for these enterprises to be able to showcase their products as part of Cebu's pride.

This year, CCCI's annual celebration of the Cebu Business Month (CBM) was opened with the launching of the Great Cebu Sale campaign brand that aims to promote Cebu as one of the preferred shopping destinations globally.

Aldeguer believes that Cebu has a unique competitive edge in the shopping industry and can play along with other shopping destinations such as Singapore and Hong Kong.

CBM 2013 overall chair Melanie Ng echoed the same sentiments as Aldeguer, saying that the initiative of the chamber is also geared towards the advancement of the tourism sector of Cebu.

The month-long Great Cebu Sale is participated by local industry sectors such as retailers, malls, exporters, hotels, resorts, restaurants, spas, medical institutions, airline and shipping companies among others.

With the theme Experience Cebu's Creative Industries, ICT and BPO, Tourism and Entrepreneurship towards Powering Up for Global Business (Excite Cebu), this year's CBM highlights the sustainable growth of the present economic foundations of Cebu which include tourism, information and communications technology and business process outsourcing (ICT-BPO), entrepreneurship and creative industries.

The tourism industry, in particular, serves as one of the fastest-growing sector and significant driver of the local economy.

CBM 2013 will culminate with the Grand Chamber Awards and Fellowship Night at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino today. /JOB (FREEMAN)