ASEAN SUMMIT in CEBU

[tolstoi]

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close na ni mods :mrgreen:

[joy_happy]

bitaw, close na ni mods kay nakakita baya ko sa Diyos at Bayan last night ingon to member sa NOC nga all the ASEAN summit was just purely convention type so dili binding ang agreements kay wala man charter. Kay if ever binding pa, it should have been ratified by the Senate.

Close na ni para dili na maukay... Thanks...

[SamuraiArcher]

pagka luoy ba sa Bayan....nag importna ug mga tawo para lang mu-apil sa ilang rally sa cebu..kwarta na pud sa katawhan ang gigamit...number one corrupt ang ilang mga leaders sa BAYAD

[dubioz]

DON'T LET IT BE A WHITE ELEPHANT

I drove to the Cebu International Convention Center hoping to get a glimpse of the insides of the building. At the corner, I could see people standing at the little plaza enjoying the afternoon. I turned to find that the gates were closed.

I sighed and looked at the building to see that it was utterly lifeless. No people could be seen, the parking lot was completely empty. It looked very much like a ....... a WHITE ELEPHANT.

Indeed, the building looks very much headed for the fate that many of its detractors had predicted, ignored and an empty useless shell devoid of any purpose. A one function structure.

To be honest, I'm completely surprised by the Mandaue and Cebu Province's failure to capitalize on the nation's curiosity about the building. The building had generated so much interest among the Filipinos during the controversies swirling about during its construction before eventually becoming a symbol of triumph for the Cebuanos that the many who did not participate in the ASEAN summit still want to see what it looks like inside. Instead, they have to gawk from outside the fence.

When the Cultural Center of the Philippines was newly finished. They would sell tickets (I wonder if they still do) for the sole purpose of letting people in to tour the place. A guide would lead you through the building so you could gawk at the different theaters. There wouldn't have to be any show, for the Center was THE show. Imeldific, despite the many wrongdoings you could ascribe to her, had at least realized there was value in packaging the building, and selling it, as the building itself.

The same can be done for the Cebu Convention Center and it has to be done NOW, while the imprint of the ASEAN is still fresh.

To make things more interesting, get the National Museum to crack open its storage room and bring out some artifacts for the people to see at the lobby. At the very least, help could be asked of the local universities to bring out relics from the history of Cebu. The building would then showcase not only itself, but the Cebuanos as well, a good substitute for the museum Cebu does not have. Cordon off the convention areas if you must to preserve them, but at least do something to keep the building alive.

Otherwise just sell the whole thing to Henry Sy. God knows it would be a great complement to his SM City and Century Park Sheraton.

[Poor_Prince23]

^ agree

[shamo]

wayok npa diay ni.. btw na ni something good ma abt hopefully! ang nka pait sa asean ma stranded ka sa traffic ka nangagi ang mga dagkong tae!..

[Ms.Beau]

@dubioz: there is an interim mancom for the CICC right? it can't be a white elephant, any person with business sense won't allow that. the idea of selling tickets for inside viewing is a good idea though i think it can't be for the long term. the place is not for exhibits but for conventions and security is always a major consideration for those. the key is to really market it as a convention center and to go international. that's how the money should come in.

[dubioz]

True. But in the meantime..... something historic for Cebu happened there. It has the status of a tourist spot now. It would be best also if they let a restaurant run the cafeteria to cater to the visitors, something Cebuano and relatively classy but still affordable like Golden Cowrie or Abuhan Tres. Cafe Laguna is nice but it might be a little too much for walk-in visitors. Basta lang it looks like it's being made use of in the meantime.

I do wonder though, about the two local governments' ability to run a convention center. I hope they don't end up bickering.

Sell it internationally? Kulang pa sa supporting businesses. No hotel nearby unless Century Park Sheraton opens. The touted boardwalk looks like it's in limbo.

There's a lot of interest locally, though.

@dubioz: there is an interim mancom for the CICC right? it can't be a white elephant, any person with business sense won't allow that. the idea of selling tickets for inside viewing is a good idea though i think it can't be for the long term. the place is not for exhibits but for conventions and security is always a major consideration for those. the key is to really market it as a convention center and to go international. that's how the money should come in.

[arnoldsa]

^^

Just be patient Dubioz, the CICC will not be a white elephant. In fairness to our government officials, I guess they are finding ways to promote it and the only way to find out is to go with them and join and see their plans for the CICC.

The defunct Uniwide Sales building has been leased already and will be opened as a mall.

Regarding the Cebu Boardwalk, it's already nearing completion. Aside from that, Cebu Doctors' University, which is located within the Cebu Boardwalk, will open soon.



For you info:

Cebu Boardwalk, photos taken last January 10, 2007
(Yacht Club, Mall, and commercial lots for hotels, etc.)

[tolstoi]

^^wow hapit na diay mahuman ang boardwalk..thanks sa pics bro!