Parian Park gets go signal

CEBU, Philippines - Work on the brand new Parian Park will be underway very soon as Mayor Tomas Osmeña has given his go signal to the project, which is funded by the Department of Tourism.

This was bared by Jocelyn ‘Joy’ Uy, a resident of Parian who is spearheading the project as part of the efforts to revive the history and culture that the place was once famous for even way before the Spaniards came to the country.

Uy said that the project will cover the sprucing up of the area around the heritage monument as well as to beautify the surroundings of the Parian Plaza.

She said that this shall hopefully help bring more tourists to this very historical quarter of the city, which remains home to some landmarks that have been there for centuries being the old home of the prominent Cebuano families.

There are three heritage sites in Parian – the Casa Gorordo Museum, the bronze Heritage Monument, and the three-centuries-old Yap-Sandiego home, which has been transformed into a museum.

Tourism Secretary Joseph ‘Ace’ Durano did not have second thoughts when the project was presented to him by Uy. The project costs P2 million and the DOT is footing the bill.

Uy said that Durano, incidentally, can also trace his roots to Parian being a descendant of the Duterte and Mercado clan that used to live in the place.

He has also been officially named an adopted son of Parian, said Uy, which was an idea presented by her father, who is a former barangay official, to barangay captain Mark Balaga, who readily agreed to the suggestion.

The main architect of the project is Augusto Rustia, who has been commissioned by the DOT.

Mayor Osmeña as well as Vice Mayor Michael Rama and Engr. Nigel Paul Villarete have also helped out in this project.

DOT Undersecretary Edu Jarque was even sent to Cebu to discuss the final plans with Uy.

She said that Sec. Durano wants to see the project completed before the end of the year.

Once completed, the Parian Park will further enhance the Heritage Walk, which has been pushed as one of the tourism attractions of the city.

The Parian Park, Uy said, shall not only become a new addition to the history-rich area, but will also encourage the Cebuanos to retrace their roots to this once bustling sector where the locals, the Chinese and the Spanish mestizos had harmoniously lived together through several centuries. - THE FREEMAN