"Cebu Festival" starts today will run until May 21, to be capped by a grand fireworks show

CEBU, Philippines - The week-long Cebu Festival kicks off today with a series of activities and events for Cebuanos, especially sports enthusiasts, from sunrise to sundown.

But unlike last year, there will be no World Record attempt this year because Cebu, courtesy of Pyroworks, still holds the Guinness World Record for the most fireworks rockets launched in 30 seconds.

Pyroworks fired 125,801 rockets last year breaking the record previously held by United Kingdom.

Brian Benjamin Lim, Cebu City Sports Commissioner and overall chairman of the event, said that the Cebu Festival will be celebrated from today until May 21 at the South Road Properties.

This year, more sporting organizations have joined so they are able to cover the air, land and water sports.

Sports events and competitions will mostly dominate the day while concerts, carnivals, food trips and night market are to look forward to in the evenings.

Lim said that the event is absolutely open to everyone, in fact, free shuttle service will be provided to those who would want to go to the SRP.

There will be two pick-up points, in Cebu City Hall for the North and in the Mambaling-SRP Junction in the South.

Kaoshiung Buses will pick up passengers from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The concert, the carnival and the night market will be at the Kawit Island.

At 8 p.m tonight, there will be a fireworks teaser to be provided by Pyroworks. The Grand Fireworks Show is on May 21.

The event costs the organizers some P5 million, P1.5 million of which is contributed by the Cebu City Government through the City Sports Commission. The rest were raised through sponsorships.  

Lim assured that there will be ample security in the area from the Police, City Traffic Operations and Management Personnel up to emergency response and medical team.

The first Cebu Festival was held last year in time with the launching of the 300-hectare reclaimed South Road Properties. (FREEMAN)