CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Vice-Mayor Joy Augustus Young and City Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña are planning to declare a Korean Day once a year to recognize the Korean settlers and tourists in the city.
Young said he will ask the City Council to declare every first Saturday of October as Korean Day for the Korean community in Cebu City to showcase their customs and tradition to enable the Cebuanos to understand them better.
“You are part of Cebu City and you are not just visitors here,” Osmeña said, adding that with Korean fever setting through the wave of Korean products even the hairstyles and make-up, it has the pact that make Cebuanos and Koreans closer to each other.
At least 30 Koreans from the different association including Korean news agency and Consul Augusto Go met with Young and Osmeña as they have finalize the three-day event this coming October.
“There are many reasons to have this Korean Day. As we all know, the Koreans are one of the biggest tourists in the city,” Young said.
According to Young, the city government is willing to extend financial assistance for the celebration. Young suggested to the Korean leaders to have a street-dancing festival for the Koreans, beauty contest and to invite movie stars from Korea.
Ken Choi of the Cebu Korean Association welcomes the assistance promised by the city government.
Choi said that as of the moment, the Korean government has already approved the holding of movie festival. They will be coordinating with the Korean embassy on the proposal of inviting Korean artists and holding of street dancing festival in Cebu City.
He said they will be creating a committee to come up with the activities and they will be submitting their proposed project to the city government.
Young assured that the Koreans will have a venue in the city to hold their activities. — (FREEMAN)