CEBU, Philippines - This Christmas season, the Lapu-Lapu City government is organizing an activity for the children in the mini Hoopsdome in Olango Island tomorrow (Saturday) until Sunday.
Frances Nicole Balao, executive assistant of the City Tourism Office, told reporters in a recent press conference they expect around 20,000 children, ages 5 to 15 years old, to join the whole-day activity that runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“We’re expecting 10,000 children coming from the island barangays of Olango and another 10,000 kids from the barangays in Lapu-Lapu City,” Balao said.
Residents in the barangays of Caubian, Caohagan and Pangan-an are also expected to join the event.
The second leg of the two-day activity will be held on December 29 to 30 in Hoopsdome, Barangay Gun-ob on the same time.
This year is the third time the city is sponsoring the event.
Various inflatable rides, Lego land, mascot and magic shows as well as different food concessionaires will be housed in the area in which Balao assures the children they will enjoy the two-day activity.
“We have rides for all the kids. We have activities that they can avail of. We have the building blocks, the color-me rooms. We have invited the robotics team of the Lapu-Lapu City to showcase para at least makakita ang atong mga kids sa mga robots nga gihimo sa atong team,” Balao said.
Mayor Paz Radaza, meanwhile, said the city government has a budget of P1.5 million for the Kiddie Land.
“Because that’s for the rides and for the facilities kay amo man gi-transport ang mga things didto,” Radaza said.
Balao said parents and guardians will also be accommodated for the event while safety and security personnel will be on standby in case of emergency.
Transportation will be provided through the barangay buses in the city and in Olango Island if they will head to the Kiddie Land, Radaza said.
Radaza added the children in Home Care, a shelter run by the city government, will also join the fun-filled activity.
Balao said around 7,000 children from the mainland and 5,000 kids from the islands of Olango, Caubian, Pangan-an and Caohagan were recorded to have graced the same event last year. (FREEMAN)