Capitol to host closing ceremony: Marcos to attend Palaro opening

CEBU, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s attendance in the opening of the Palarong Pambansa 2024 on July 9 at the newly refurbished Cebu City Sports Center has been confirmed.

Earlier, Vice President Sara Duterte, the outgoing Department of Education (DepEd) secretary, also confirmed her attendance in the opening ceremony.

This as the Cebu provincial government will host the closing ceremony of Palarong Pambansa 2024 at the CCSC on July 16. And to help host Cebu City, it will also donate P8 million to help defray the expenses.

John Pages, Cebu City Sports Commission chairman, said he recently had a Zoom meeting with DepEd-Cebu City Schools Division Assistant Superintendent Adolf Aguilar; Assistant Secretary Panchet Bringas, Acting Cebu City Administrator lawyer Kristine Batucan, among others, with the Office of the President to discuss the program, protocol, and security measures for the opening ceremony, since the president is coming.

In a press conference, preventively suspended Mayor Michael Rama also confirming his attendance in the Palaro opening ceremony.

He said he would not mind where he would be, but he would be at the event, because as what his supporters are allegedly saying, Cebu City hosting the Palaro would not even be possible without him and Acting Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros.

“(My) role? It doesn’t matter…. Let’s give it all to make the Palaro successful…. Role is not what I, together with Dondon, Phillip, and all of us, are after. Ang amo ra gyud tinabangay lang gyud ta,” he said.

“Mao ra gyud ni hangyo nako, palihug tabangan nato ang Palaro. Naay daghang bisita, mga paryente ninyo. Kung naa moy kwarta, ipakita ninyo ang inyong distinct and genuine hospitality. Sa katong mga walay kwarta, ang importante kaayo pahiyom plus manglimpyo gyud ta,” he added.

Capitol offers help

Help is also what the Capitol is extending to city with its offer to host the closing ceremony and to donate P8 million.

In a post by Sugbo News, the Capitol’s official media arm, Governor Gwen Garcia assured that the province will pull all the stops to present a closing ceremony that Cebuanos can be proud of.

The governor said they would utilize state of the art technology and “technical wizardry”, which will be introduced for the first time in the country.

Meanwhile, Acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, the governor’s nephew, expressed his gratitude for her help, which he said shows that Cebu is a united island.

“Nalipay kaayo ta. Nagpakita gyud diay nga ang Cebu is really One Cebu Island, magtinabangay ta. So, nalipay kaayo ko nga si Governor, nisugot siya nga sila maoy mo-handle sa finale sa atong Palaro. Nindot kaayo, show of unity,” he said, as quoted by Sugbo News.

The Freeman also learned that Ahwel Paz, the former creative director of ABS-CBN, will handle the closing event of the Palarong Pambansa.

A lineup of celebrity performers and hosts are also being finalized to take part in the closing ceremony, which Duterte would also be attending.

The Capitol said that with its support, the Palarong Pambansa’s closing ceremony will be a fitting end to a week of intense competition and camaraderie.

It assured that athletes and spectators can look forward to a night of entertainment and celebration.

On the opening ceremony, Pages said it would only take less than an hour. He said, though, that there would be a pre-program event featuring Cebu talents to entertain the delegates, visitors and the rest of the spectators while waiting for the arrival of the president and the vice president

“The program proper will begin at exactly 5 p.m. with President BBM in attendance. The formal program will be finished in less than an hour,” Pages said.

He said that although short, the opening ceremony promises to be impactful. The Freeman learned that there will be over a thousand performers with multi-awarded cultural group Lumad Basakanon in the lead.

The opening salvo will be an “info-tainment” depicting the history of Cebu as cradle of Christianity and a progressive city.

BFP ready

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Cebu City yesterday assured that it is “100 percent” ready in ensuring fire safety of the upcoming Palarong Pambansa 2024.

Fire Inspector Jemar Mesiona, BFP-7 Cebu City operations chief, said they are in close coordination with Local Government Unit (LGU) and other national agencies and have been actively participating in meticulous planning and proactive measures aimed to secure the safety of all participants and all attendees during the event.

“One hundred percent ready nami kay gibuhat man pud ni nato sa CVIRAA, Sinulog (so) this is not new to us…Maong sige tag attend og meeting para informed ta permi sa tasking nga gihatag sa atoa,” Mesiona said.

The Palaro being their top priority for the coming weeks, the BFP already started the strategic deployment of firetrucks as well as the routine inspections.

The 10 fire substations of Cebu City Talamban Fire Substation, Pahina Central Fire Substation, Parian Fire Substation, San Nicolas Fire Substation, Pardo Fire Substation, Labangon Fire Substation, Lahug Fire Substation, Guadalupe Fire Substation, Mabolo Fire Substation, and Cebu Business Park Fire Substation) have already received their deployment plans to ensure focused monitoring and rapid response.

The Barangay Fire Brigades of Cebu City (BFBCC) are also prepared to integrate barangay firetrucks into the deployment plan which ensures that all areas are adequately covered, and resources are optimized.

Meanwhile, at the opening of the Palarong Pambansa, the BFP committed to provided additional fire trucks and personnel, as well as stand by first aid and rescue teams.

“Tulo ka assets ang naa, usa ka first aid team with ambulance and nurses, usa ka firetruck and crews and usa rescue truck sa special rescue force nato,” Mesiona said.

Fire safety inspectors also thoroughly inspected the billeting quarters and recommended measures to the LGU to prevent fire hazards, emphasizing the need to keep exit points clear and address electrical risks, despite finding no major dangers.

“Wala pa noon nakit-an nga risk pero ato lang advice, labi na ang mga exit points na obstructed mao rajud nay atong mga major concerns. Kaybaw nata sa atong mga players, magdala og extensions. Maong ato jud silang palibutan kay aron to keep on reminding them in regards to fire safety ilabi na sa electrical, appliance and gadgets,” Mesiona said. — Jonnavie Villa /RHM (FREEMAN)