We can make the ASEAN Summit a different experience

The Philippines is not part of any known ancient civilization. For purposes of the western world, the record of our existence as a people is less than 500 hundred years old. In the absence of any written historical document prior to the annals of Pigafeta, we can only start to account our recorded history from the time the Spaniards waded our shores. So, when the participants of the ASEAN meet in December come, we shall not be able to show such kind of remarkable relic like the Parthenon which modern Greece can showcase to its visitors.

Those of our guests to the ASEAN Summit who come from advanced cities of the world may, as if to compare, look around for such imposing structures as the Petronas Towers of Kuala Lumpur. They too, shall realize that the kind of architecture they may find in our city may not be as impressive. Understandably because of the series of our economic crises, we have not surged forward in the same fashion as many of our neighbors. So, both from the point of the physical grandeur of the distant past and the amazing products of modern times, we will have not much to show to the delegates and participants of the December event. But, thank God, we are endowed with the most important ingredient of any given civilization. Our people are our country's assets far more valuable than the estimated 100,000 men and women who erected Khufu's Great Pyramid at Gizeh. It is thus imperative for us Cebuanos to demonstrate to the rest of the world that people, more than anything, matter. I am sure that the organizing committee tasked with preparing Cebu for the big event, has considered all angles to make the hosting of the summit a resounding success. At the top of the list is making the stay of our guests most pleasant and memorable. That's why our police forces, for instance, have assembled a huge force in order to ensure the safety of every delegate.

Let us capitalize on what we have. The point is to create a pool of volunteer professionals. Our guests will remember Cebu more than any place in the world if warm, friendly and intelligent Cebuanos are available to answer their most trivial (as well as their most profound) questions regarding our country, our city and our people. I mean warm, friendly and intelligent Cebuanos who, because somehow they have attained financial stability of their own, will not be motivated by any desire to earn a quick dollar. I refer to Cebuanos who simply want to show to the world that there is no more hospitable place in the sun than our city and no friendlier people than us.

Who are these people and how do we get them together? I suggest that, (assuming this is not yet being done) the organizing committee will designate a coordinator who will respond to volunteers. I know of a few professionals who want to volunteer help but they do not know whom to approach. Without a specific coordinator to whom they can offer their services, they are afraid that their act of volunteering may be misinterpreted if not misunderstood.

Indeed, we have lawyers, doctors, accountants, engineers, teachers and entrepreneurs in our midst who may just be willing to give a part of their time to become literally buddies to our guests. They are the persons who are most capable to make our visitors' stay educational, fun filled and memorable.

Of course, a good system has to be adopted. For starters, even if they are volunteers, their backgrounds should be checked. Then their time of availability determined and on such available time during the SEAN summit, they should be either on easy call or in a place where they can be summoned in a split second. To make sure of their compatibility with a visitor to whom they may be assigned to accompany, their areas of preferences should be carefully noted. Aha, there are many concerns to be addressed but with the time left, it still can be accomplished. My question now Gov. Gwen is: "To whom shall I report for duty?"

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