'Pasko sa Carbon' launched yesterday

The Cebu City United Multi-sectoral Coordinating Council launched yesterday the first-ever "Pasko sa Carbon" with the theme "Kahapsay, kahayag ug kasadya sa Carbon alang sa kalamboan."

Activities will formally open on December 1 with a Holy Mass, to be followed by a series of events until December 25. Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Vice Mayor Michael Rama, chairman of the CCUMCC, will lead the switching on of Christmas lights in the area after the opening program.

Rama said that vendors and business establishments around Carbon Market area are expected to participate in these activities.

Project chairman Joni Chan pointed out that it is the business sector that provided the Christmas decors and directed the vendors to secure the location to work as one for a better community. Carbon Police Station 5 headed by Supt. Eliseo Castronuevo is in charge of security and safety of the public in the entire duration of the activities.

Castronuevo said that they are coordinating with the barangay officials of Ermita, while adjacent barangay Sto. Niño will also augment its barangay tanods as well as Waterfront Police Station 3 on their personnel. Maria Pino Buanghug, the president of the Cebu City United Vendors Association, expressed that this activity will show the unity of street vendors or traders and stallholders co-existing at the Carbon Market.

Buanghug pointed out there is so much difference this time in the management of the Carbon area compared to that of the past years. She said, "street vendors and stallholders now share mutual understanding."

Chan said the activity will also awaken the public that Carbon Market today is not the Carbon market before. He cited improvements on orderliness and cleanliness in the area.

On December 22 to 24, there will be a Night Market wherein the stretch of Manalili street at the Carbon area will be lighted and everybody can display fruits, food, gift and novelty items without paying space rentals.

Further, Chan said that the area will be well lighted and that they are discouraging competition among traders, as the activity is meant to uphold the spirit of Christmas. And so that consumers will be able to enjoy the ambiance while buying goods. - Gregg M. Rubio/MEEV