Daghan kaayong salamat, Sugbo!

(Part 1 of 2)

Last August 10, 2012, I had the honor of joining other distinguished Cebuanos, many of them are those I personally look up to, in being recognized by the Province of Cebu and Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia in the annual Governor’s Ball and Garbo sa Sugbo (“Pride of Cebu”) Awarding Ceremonies held this year at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).

Earlier that day, I was called by the Governor’s very effective and ever so amiable chief of staff Bess Francia to inform me that I was to give an acceptance speech in behalf of the awardees in the category to which I belonged.  Hurriedly, I whipped something up; and it was rather easy to write a ‘thank you’ speech—in fact, there was a surplus of words that I had to edit out most. But it was not at all surprising, after all, my heart always overflows with gratitude, never forgetting all those who’ve become instrumental in my growth as an individual.

However, when it came to the actual delivery of the speech I had prepared, being the first one that evening to give his acceptance speech and realizing that our lovely Governor was going to be up on stage the entire time whilst I and the rest of the awardees were to deliver theirs, I decided to forgo with what I had written and instead, gave an evidently more concise impromptu address.  

Here are parts of the acceptance speech I had originally written that evening:

Governor Gwen Garcia, Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia, Congressman Pablo John Garcia, Mayor Mike Rama, Congressman Benhur Salimbangon, my good friend Senator Miguel Zubiri, members of the consular corps, distinguished guests and dignitaries, fellow awardees, my family and friends, ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

Cebu and the CICC played host to the 12th ASEAN Summit, an important international gathering where Cebuanos rose to the challenge and embraced a future so promising, so bright, so fruitful, that it can only be destined.  At 24 years old then, I was one of the Cebuanos who dreamt of pitching in, who was eager to try to contribute a stone for this edifice we continue to build.

And as the countries were finalizing the main outcome documents for the ASEAN heads to sign here in Cebu, this Cebuano seized the golden opportunity to contribute. I was one of the country’s official delegates to the ASEAN SocCom (or the Socio-Cultural Community Coordinating Conference) at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta, and whilst finalizing the main outcome documents for the Summit here, I authored a provision highlighting the crucial role young peoples of the region play in the establishment of an ASEAN Community and in the realization of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals or UN MDGs, both by the year 2015.

This provision is an important component of the 12th ASEAN Summit’s main outcome document—the ‘Cebu Declaration Toward One Caring and Sharing Community’—signed by former President Arroyo and other ASEAN Heads of State and Government right where we are, here in the CICC, in this edifice that ‘is a testament to Cebuano ingenuity, skill and indomitable spirit.’

Suffice it to say, one of my dreams, that of contributing to international policy and empowering young people throughout the region came to life here, in Cebu, here in the CICC. (…to be continued)

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