Delegates will get a taste of the famous Lechon de Cebu, hanging rice and native snacks. (CDN FILE PHOTO)
The smell of sweet mangoes, Sinulog dancers and the bright smiles of Cebuanos will greet Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) delegates upon their arrival at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
A warm Cebuano welcome is being prepared by GMR-Megawide, private concessionaire of the airport terminal, and the Department of Tourism (DOT) 7.
“Cebu is such a beautiful place, and what better way to show these delegates our local flavor than by giving them a true-blue Cebuano welcome,” said Estee Marie Plunket, corporate affairs head of GMR-Megawide Cebu
Airport Corp. during the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO) 7 forum last Tuesday.
At least 3,422 senior officials from 21 APEC economies are expected to arrive for a series of high-level meetings here from August to October.
SNACKS
Upon arrival, delegates would be directed to an APEC-exclusive VIP lounge, designed by Cebuano industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue. They will be served Cebu’s favorite native snacks like puto, sikwati (native chocolate), and mangoes said Plunket.
The four host hotels in Cebu City are also preparing for this theme.
“Many of our hotels look like they’re not in Cebu. What we’re asking them to do is to make sure that the hotels will feel Cebuano, look Cebuano, and be Cebuano,” Radisson Blu general manager Nishan Silva told reporters.
For the welcome dinner, which will be held at the Radisson, delegates will get a taste of lechon, hanging rice, kinilaw, bago-ong and shrimp in mango sauce.
Other host hotels are Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City Marriott Hotel and Marco Polo Plaza Cebu. Quest Hotel, Harold’s and Parklane have also been briefed.
TOURS
To complete the Cebuano experience, the DOT has arranged a city tour that will bring delegates to the Magellan’s Cross, Basilica del Sto. Niño and Museo Sugbo.
Judilyn Quiachon, supervising tourism officer, said paid tour packages for the countryside have also been prepared.
Guests will be taken to cultural and historical attractions in Carcar city, boating in nearby islands, and to beaches and other scenic natural sights within Metro Cebu, said Quiachon.
She said taxi drivers and transport operators have been briefed to groom themselves and act politely since they are frontliners.
“Show them the best of Cebu, be kind and open-minded,” said Quiachon.
She said the courtesy and hospitality of Cebuanos will leave a lasting impression on the delegates.
ebu will host the Third Senior Officials’ Meeting on Aug. 22 to Sept. 6 as well as the Structural Reforms Ministerial Meeting and Finance Ministerial Meeting in September./ UP Cebu Intern, Juli Ann M. Sibi