Capitol kicks off month-long anniversary celebration

CEBU, Philippines - The month-long activities for the 442nd founding anniversary of the Province of Cebu kicks off today with the flag raising ceremony to be attended by city and municipal mayors led by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Sugbo: Nagsubay sa Tukmang Dalan” which Garcia said echoes the slogan of President Benigno Aquino III’s “daang matuwid.”

“Straight path may not always be the right path. What’s important is, are you following the right path and taking the right direction?” Garcia said.

The governor said this encompasses everything, foremost of which is honesty, transparency, a clear vision and the ability to get everyone on board to work together for a common goal.

One of the activities today is the opening of the Women Trailblazers Photo Exhibit at the Capitol dome area which includes Josefina “Inday Pining” Gullas, the mother of The FREEMAN’s chairman Jose “Dodong” Gullas.

August 6 is the founding anniversary of the Province of Cebu but today is the launching of various programs and activities that will run daily until the month ends.

An agro-fair featuring products from all over Cebu Province is also opened today, and would run until Friday, at the Capitol compound.

On Friday, the One Cebu Expo will be opened at the Cebu International Convention Center while the Governor’s Ball and Garbo sa Sugbo Awards will be held in the evening.

Other major activities include the MICE Conference on August 11 and the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals on August 13 at the CICC.

Some 25,000 visitors are expected to attend the One Cebu Expo while local officials from sister-province of Ilocos Norte led by Governor Imee Marcos and South Cotabato will also attend the weeklong expo and the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.

Foreign dignitaries from The South Center, a Geneva-based Intergovernmental Policy Think Tank made up of 51 countries, will hold their board meeting here.

The Province of Cebu will host a welcome dinner on August 4 for the South Center dignitaries as part of the founding anniversary activities. — (FREEMAN)