Osmeña wants simple Charter Day celebration

MAYOR Tomas Osmeña said Cebu City will have a simple celebration of the 81st Charter Day this coming Saturday, February 24.

He said the city will allocate around P1.5 million budget for this year’s celebration.

“I don’t think we’ll spend P1 million. Mike Rama spent P14 million on Charter Day. Now maybe less than P1 million. Ako bisan (For me, even if)siopao, meat roll ug fruit juice okay rana para kanako (it’s okay),” the mayor said.

In line with the celebration, the Office of the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC) has prepared nightly activities showcasing the skills of the Cebuanos in poetry, music and theater starting today until Friday at the Plaza Independencia.

City Councilor Margarita Osmeña, deputy mayor for the culture, arts and tourism, said in her speech the importance of preserving the arts and culture of the city being hailed as the Asean City of Culture.

“We know that the arts in Cebu City is alive. Cebu City has a gift of being considered as the Asean City of Culture. It is a title that we did not compete, it was given to us by the Asean community and we are the first city in the Philippines to be given that. It’s not something that comes and goes, it’s a title that we keep forever, a responsibility to preserve,” she said.

Councilor Osmeña initiated the ribbon-cutting and launching ceremony to open the weeklong celebration yesterday.

The Cebu City Children’s Choir led the invocation together with the Sinfonia Orchestra.

Local performers like the Cebu City Cultural Dance Troupe and Dynamic Dance Sport Team also entertained the audience.

Some local artists and art enthusiasts, city hall employees, city policemen, among others attended the opening program.

Also in line with the celebration, the launching of the second Cebu City Arts Week, an exhibit featuring the works of Cebuano artists, was held yesterday at the Cuerpo de Guardia in Fort San Pedro.

The Cebu City Sinfonia serenaded the guests during the launching. On the fourth day of the Arts Week, there will be an on-the-spot painting competition, which is open to all Cebuanos.