Dinner to mark City of Culture declaration

CEBU, Philippines - A portion of Osmeña Boulevard will be closed to traffic tonight to give way to a dinner reception as part of the celebration for the declaration today of Cebu City as the ASEAN City of Culture for the Creative Industry.

The event, to be hosted by Mayor Michael Rama and the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission represented by Councilor Margarita Osmeña, will be held at the Sinulog Hall of the Rizal Memorial Library and Museum.

The portion of the Osmeña Boulevard that would be closed from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. is the stretch from J. Llorente Street to M. P. Yap Street.

The City Traffic Operations and Management (CITOM) advised all motorists coming from Capitol to turn to M. Yap Street then turn left to G. Garcia Street.

The dinner reception will be attended by ambassadors from six ASEAN countries.

Osmeña said they have prepared for this event up to the tiniest detail especially in the area of protocol.

The organizing committee is also very careful over the choice of food as it has to make sure that ‘halal’ foods will be served to officials of ASEAN countries to respect their culture.

As of yesterday, Senator Vicente Sotto III is the only national official who confirmed to attend the event.

Osmeña said the secretaries of Department of Tourism and Department of Foreign Affairs are sending their undersecretaries.

She said Rama, since he is the host, may invite anybody he wants to invite, even Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who will deliver her State of the Province Address at 5 p.m.

The mayor will reportedly attend the Governor’s SOPA and will then proceed to the dinner reception.

The city was chosen by the ASEAN Ministers of Culture and the Arts because of its creative industry, which includes architecture, performing arts, visual arts, industrial design, culinary arts, among others. (FREEMAN)