ASEAN spouses committee ready for summit

While everybody's frantic about the readiness of the Cebu International Convention Center to be the venue for the 12th ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN committee on spouses yesterday revealed everything is in place for the spouses of the heads of states who will attend the summit.

The committee on spouses yesterday held a seminar workshop to check on the readiness of their programs and plans for the spouses.

The committee is led by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Francisco Benedicto and co-chaired by Cebu's First Ladies, Margot Osmeña (Cebu City), Linda Ouano (Mandaue City) and Paz Radaza (Lapu-Lapu City). Juris Umali-Soliman, chief of staff of First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo, said they threshed out what is lacking in their preparations and check on the little things that still need to be done for the coming summit.

"For the dry run next week, konti na lang ang kailangang gawin," she stressed, adding that they are making sure that everything will be ready.

She explained that since this is the very first time that there is a separate program for the spouses of the heads of states of the ASEAN, they have to ensure that the spouses will enjoy their stay and have memorable experience.

Aside from checking all the preparations, members of the committee were also lectured on protocol during the summit.

Soliman added that it would be the first time that the First Gentleman will host the spouses and the first time that a "Friendship Garden" would be launched. The Friendship Garden will commemorate Cebu's hosting of the summit and will foster closer ties with the spouses of the ASEAN-member countries.

The First Gentleman is also expected here in Cebu, next week for the dry run of events for the summit, which will be held here on December 11 to 14.

Series of events are lined up for the spouses of the ASEAN leaders to make their stay in Cebu worth remembering, as they would be given the opportunity to explore the Cebuano and Filipino culture as a whole. During their stay, they will get the chance to explore the historical and tourist sites of Cebu City like the Fuente Osmena Circle, Cebu Provincial Capitol, Magellan's Cross, Basilica del Sto. Nino, Colon Street and Jones Avenue. They will also be entertained by cultural presentations and have the chance to taste sumptuous Filipino dishes. - Wenna A. Berondo/MEEV