After several months of intensive brainstorming, tedious planning, and careful execution, Cebu, led by the driven and focused Provincial Governor Gwen Garcia and City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, together with the neighboring cities of Mandaue, headed by Mayor Thadeo Ouano, and Lapu-Lapu, by Mayor Arturo Radaza, was more than ready to showcase the very best the island had to offer.
Cebu se puso muy guapa.
From Jan. 10 to 15, the heads of states and governments of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines converged at the Cebu International Convention Center and at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa that brought about a series of meetings and signing of agreements between member nations.
On Jan. 14, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hosted a formal gala dinner for Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphasavanh of Lao PDR, Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah al ahmad Badawi of Malaysia, Prime Minister General Soe Win of Myanmar, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Surayud Chulanont of Thailand, and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam, and its six dialogue partners Australian Prime Minister John Howard, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at the Marquee, the property’s fully air-conditioned indoor tent.
On hand to greet the heads of state upon their arrival were Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts vice president and Makati Shangri-La general manager Greg Dogan and Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa general manager Timothy Wright.
VIP guests were treated to a magnificent performance from internationally acclaimed artist Lea Salonga with the Mandaue Children’s Choir, Bayanihan National Dance Company, and fashion czar Pitoy Moreno with international beauty title holders Miss Universe Margie Moran-Floirendo and Gloria Diaz, Miss International Gemma Cruz-Araneta and Melanie Marquez, and Cebu’s Karla Bautista.
One of the more moving moments of the program was Freddie Aguilar’s hit song Anak along with Cebuana singers Maria Donna, Rizza Navales and Eva Santos singing the tune in Bahasa Melayu, Japanese, and English.
It was simply a night to remember with the fondest memories.
Ay! Cebu. You did it again!