CHAC: Expect unique celebration

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government, through the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC), will have a unique way of celebrating, for the very first time, the National Heroes Week on August 23-29.

CHAC executive director and officer-in-charge Cinbeth Orellano said that they will have a grand opening salvo for the one-week event on August 23 at the Ayala Center Cebu Activity Center.

“As a way of paying a fitting tribute to all our heroes’ sacrifices and their significant contributions to our well-kept freedom, we have outlined a series of activities that includes live performances or re-enactments and exhibits using multimedia presentations,” Orellano told The Freeman.

Orellano said that they are tapping all the schools in Cebu City to portray the life of a national hero, which will be presented during the opening ceremonies.

The University of Southern Philippines Foundation will portray the life of Melchora Aquino while the University of San Jose-Recoletos will feature the life of Arcadio Maxilom and the University of  the Visayas, to portray Gabriela Silang.

Completing the presenters from the schools are Southwestern University (Marcelo H. del Pilar), Cebu Institute of Technology-University (Andres Bonifacio), Cebu Normal University (GOMBURZA), Abellana National School (Marcela Agoncillo), University of Cebu (Emilio Jacinto), University of San Carlos (Dr. Jose Rizal) and Cebu Doctors’ University (Emilio Aguinaldo).

Aside from the schools, they also tapped groups from the local government units, private sector and non-government organizations.

The Lapu-Lapu City Cultural Troupe will be portraying the life of Lapu-Lapu, Gualandi Volunteers Service Programme Inc. (an organization for persons with disabilities) will featurethe life of Apolinario Mabini and the San Diego Dance Company for Leon Kilat.

Orellano said that each participating schools and groups will be having a three-minute presentation and prior to that, there will also be a 50-seconder AVP presentation on the life of the hero each group will be presenting.

Aside from the presentations, an exhibit will also be held at Ayala Center. The exhibit will be opened after the program with a ribbon cutting ceremony to be spearheaded by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama along with Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella. (FREEMAN)