Davide supports Cebu hosting of ASEAN meet

Former Supreme Court chief justice Hilario Davide Jr. threw his support behind Cebu in its preparations for the upcoming 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, saying having the said international event here is in recognition of the Cebuanos and Cebu itself.

"I am really proud to have the summit done in Cebu. It's a recognition of the Cebuanos and Cebu itself," he said.

Davide was guest speaker in the Forum on Heroic Christian Leadership participated by representatives from business, government, civil society and church sectors and which was organized by a church-based movement called "Dilaab" headed by Rev. Fr. Carmelo Diola.

The event is aimed to complement the government's preparations for the 12th ASEAN summit.

Amidst criticisms by some sectors of the huge government spending for the said event, Davide yesterday said Cebu's hosting of the ASEAN Summit has placed the island in the global economic roadmap.

He also defended expenses made for the beautification of public structures located along the ceremonial routes in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

"I have always loved beauty. Beautification creates a certain beginning for us to learn to love beauty. Extravagance and spending are the judgment call of the local government units. We should not consider just the expenses but the end-result because it may multiply a lot of times to benefits for Cebu," he said.

He said Cebu's hosting of the said international gathering will bring about future economic benefits that will outdo expenditures made for its preparations to ensure a successful hosting.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said she is glad that someone as respected as the former chief justice has thrown his support behind the said endeavor.

The governor has been criticized by militant groups for Capitol's allocation of P515 million for the completion of the Cebu International Convention Center.

"I thank the chief justice. Spoken like a true Cebuano who loves Cebu and wants only what is best for Cebu," she said.

"It is really a source of strength in these most challenging times and to those of us who have stretched ourselves beyond the limits of human endurance in order that we may make the country proud because Cebu will deliver as promised," she added.

In her speech during the forum, the governor also said the preparations for the ASEAN Summit has brought out the best and worst in the Cebuanos.

She said despite the skepticism of some, there is still hope, which she said "is not in the big things and the grand gestures that come a few times in every lifetime."

"Hope is in the little things - a kind act, a tiny contribution to a larger cause, a helping hand when it was needed, a thumbs-up sign when everything seemed low, an offered prayer when there was nothing else that we could do," she said.

Today is the turnover of the CICC to Malacañang to give the latter at least a week to prepare some of its facilities for the ASEAN Summit meetings. - Cristina C. Birondo/BRP