Cebu's heritage programs lauded

CEBU, Philippines - Prominent guests expressed their admiration for the culture and heritage preservation programs of the province at the dinner of the 56th birthday celebration of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia last Wednesday.

Among them were Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama did not fail to mention the governor’s programs when he first talked before the two national officials.

“The governor, whose dynamism, whose undoubted love for culture, heritage preservation, then love for the whole island of Cebu, is something that we all should be proud,” Rama said.

Rama was applauded when he proclaimed how the Province of Cebu and the City of Cebu are working together to give their best.

“If you look beyond, it’s a beautiful tomorrow. If you look back, it was a struggle. But today, Cebu City and the Province indubitably have forged a unity between the governor and the mayor and the people are smiling,” Rama said.

Zubiri said few governors and local government officials prioritize heritage conservation and the culture of the people.

“Many politicians, governors, city mayors…what they want to do is build a large building, destroy the old and build the new. But Governor Garcia has been able to preserve all the cultural and heritage sites of Cebu for future generations to come,” Zubiri said.

Zubiri also credited Garcia for making the province prominent on the map with the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, a rural tourism program.

“Imagine, from Bantayan Island all the way down to Santander, she would encourage people to go and visit each and every town,” he said.

Marcos said that Garcia “has surpassed the description of politician and she has come to be nothing less than a leader.”

“I have to begin by expressing my admiration for her as a professional because I have seen what she has done for Cebu,” Marcos said.

Garcia has been visiting the hometown of the Marcoses which resulted to the forging of a sisterhood agreement between Cebu and Ilocos Norte.

“She has charmed us and we are completely taken by her and we are so happy that this partnership that we found as friends, that this partnership has extended to a partnership between our two provinces. So much so that we now are proud to announce that we consider your governor, Governor Gwen, to be an adopted official genuine Ilocano,” Marcos said.

Garcia said the night was unforgettable and the presence of her friends and family assured her of being appreciated and loved.

She also said that the warming of the relationship between the two chief executives of the Province and the City has brought “many, many smiles to many, many Cebuanos.” (FREEMAN)