ASEAN Anxieties

Okay, so the ASEAN Summit is bubbling right up and it's impossible not to notice. The newly asphalted roads, the freshly painted electric posts and the - dare I mention it? - upcoming four-day school break are but teasers for the grand hosting gig that Cebu City is slated to pull off. Both the government and the private sectors are eagerly gearing up for the event, disbursing billions of pesos in total for beautification and preparation purposes. Like an extravagant hostess doting lavishly on guests, Cebu as a whole seems to have spared no expense.

So, um, just a blunt question: Are these billions in disbursements expenses or investments? I surely hope for the latter. First impressions last, right? And considering we only have four days to prove our possible international appeal, we might as well make a great impact. But frankly speaking, it seems our preparations so far are, well, quite superficial. Yes, looks do matter, even when it comes to how a whole city looks. But surely, the world leaders are going to look beyond our fresh coats of paint and newly sprouted facilities and see what the Philippines (Cebu, especially) is really like - how we carry ourselves as a place and as a people and how conducive and energetic our environment really is. If we're going to make an impact, we better make a deep kind of impact, that radiates beyond superficial beautification.

Better we allocate more funds for preparing our local leaders, rounding up and training the Summit volunteers, translators and the media who are going to cover the beat. The quality of human resources just might make a more lasting impact. Let's face it. Our current facilities just can't match that of other Asian countries (and neither can our land area). But we can make up for it through genuine hospitality, eagerness and intelligent preparation.

Speaking of such preparation, fellow youth Rommel, during a candid discussion, once mentioned that maybe the local leaders should go around Cebu, especially the slum and squatter areas so they'd have front row seats in witnessing the "real" issues that should be addressed but are sadly also those we'd rather ignore or put off till later. Trade relations, terrorism, the environment - all of these are really important issues that we could bring up and discuss. But if you observe a common citizen in motion, like a mother of four who lives in a box and who has nothing to feed her family everyday, then all those grandiose matters would pale in comparison to the crucial issues of poverty and human dignity.

Creating such an impact, both on the surface and beyond the surface is critical for our stint as a hosting place. Instantly, one would think of the potential foreign investors. This harps on the high hopes of businessmen and youth alike (read: possibly more employment spots after grad day). In an optimistic light, fellow student Mark L. adds to the discussion: Cebu's hosting of the Summit gains us instant recognition for our place. This could boost our economy, because it could open doors in invitation for new investments like infrastructure, agriculture and other industries. Powerful foreign leaders and potential investors will be participating in the ASEAN Summit.

The event could also help our tourism. For sure, many tourists would visit for the Summit this year. This is our chance to show other countries what we can do and what we are capable of. In the book, Driven from Within, Michael Jordan stated, "It all started with an appetite to prove. Whether it was competing with my siblings or trying to get attention from my parents, I wanted to show what I could do, what I was capable of accomplishing. I wanted results, and I was driven to find out the best way to get them." Well, we all know the results of his hard work and in our case, we obviously have a hearty appetite to prove ourselves. It's our initiator to make the event a success.

So let's make those billions of pesos a good investment! Moral support is essential to our local leaders. Enough of all the endless bickering and destructive criticism of the Summit moves and plans of the government. Better we show some support instead. We've come this far. There's no turning back. So let's just settle down and make the most of it in a positive, optimistic and pro-active light, shall we?

The event is really something to look forward to. Oh, that's even an understatement. I'm sure you've noticed that digital timer stemming from Fuente Osmeña, counting down the days till the Summit. Who knows what will transpire when the day count is up? With all the pending plans at this point, it's exciting to wait for the final results. We're watching the action like a countdown on New Year's Eve - riveted, eager and drunk with expectation.

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