Scaled-down ASEAN

Organizers say that Cebu's hosting of the 48th ASEAN Summit and related meetings is scaled down compared to how it was originally planned. It is now only down to two days, with emphasis on the leaders' summit where heads of state of all 11 member-nations are expected to arrive. By default, our Mactan-Cebu International Airport which boasts of being one of the best in the Asia-Pacific has upped its game in preparations. Parts of its terminal, including general aviation facilities, had a facelift to accommodate our guests. That is what we do well: hospitality at its finest, polished and presentable for the global stage.

Despite seemingly watered-down events, the Philippines, in its hosting, is not backing down on security. Over the weekend, authorities promised more than 10,000 personnel to ensure that proceedings will go peacefully. As for cause-oriented groups who intend to air out their grievances to these leaders, they will be allowed within their rights at designated venues. For those of us who are used to Cebu holding international events, our lives will go on and we will treat it just like any other disruption. It is manageable, even routine but for the general public, it will be something difficult to fully comprehend, both in scale and in implication.

It is really never “scaled down” when there are fewer than a hundred families transferred from areas near the summit venue. Reports say that they will be housed temporarily in a resort in Cordova. We can joke about it as a mini-vacation, but it is, at best, a band-aid solution to a pressing and persistent problem: the needs of the urban poor who are often made invisible in moments like this. The same goes for the large signages placed over areas like the Pasil Fish Port, visible when one passes along the Cebu South Coastal Road near the viaduct. There is an almost impeccable attempt to cover what is real and lived. These are spaces that are not just backdrops, but active parts of our local economy.

Organizers downplay these concerns and rule out problems because we are, as always, ready for big events. Cebu has proven this time and again. There is pride in that readiness, in our ability to host, to welcome, and to deliver. However, this readiness should not only be measured in how well we receive guests, but also in how honestly we present ourselves. A city is not just its polished terminals and secured venues; it is also the communities that exist beyond the view of visiting dignitaries. They too, have a stake in all that is happening.

In the end, this “scaled-down” summit may still set a standard of how our humble home can accommodate the world in one sitting. On hindsight, it actually quietly reveals what we choose to show and what we choose, even temporarily, to hide. I hope this serves as a wake-up call for all the agencies that are working tirelessly to make this summit seamless.