Cebu City Turns 81 Next Week

Cebu City, dubbed the “Queen City of the South”, will celebrate its 81st Charter Day Anniversary on February 24.

Greggy Senados, of the Cebu City Public Information Office, said on Saturday that several activities have been lined up for this year’s celebration with the theme: “Cebu City @ 81: Tomorrow must be Better than Today.”

Ushering in the celebration is the observance of “Arts Week” on February 19-22 at the historical Plaza Independencia.

“Arts Week” is spearheaded by the Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Office (CCCHAO).

The Cebu City Agriculture Department will also hold an awarding for Outstanding Farmers on February 21 at the Crown Regency Hotel as part of the Charter Day Anniversary celebration.

The “Serbisyong Sugbuanon” program, which brings the services of the Cebu City government closer to the people, will be held every last Friday of the month. On Feb. 23, it will be at the Plaza Sugbo fronting the Cebu City Hall.

The program is regularly held in the different barangays of Cebu City, but Mayor Tomas Osmeña decided to make it one of the highlights of the celebration and hold it in front of the City Hall this Friday, Senados said.

On the big day on February 24, there will be a thanksgiving mass, flag-raising ceremony, parade, and review in the morning at the Cebu City Hall.

The recognition of Young Sugbuanon Exemplary and Action-Driven Leaders (YOUSEAL) Awardees 2018 and Outstanding Cebu City Government Employees will immediately follow after the ceremonial activities at Plaza Sugbo.

The recognition program is being facilitated by the Cebu City Youth Affairs Office.

In the evening of February 24, the Awarding of Outstanding Individuals and Institutions as well as Posthumous Awardees with Testimonial Dinner will be hosted by the City at the Cebu City Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Barangay Lahug.

The 81st Charter Day Anniversary celebration, which will be observed as a holiday in Cebu City, is spearheaded by the Office of the Mayor, CCCHAO, and the Department of Manpower Development and Placement.

The Municipality of Cebu, which was then under the Cebu Provincial Government, became an independent Chartered City known as “Cebu City” on February 24, 1937 by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 58.

Cebu was already considered a city during the Galleon Trade as it was then called “La Ciudad de Santissimo Nombre de Jesus,” or “The City of the Most Holy Name of Jesus,” making Cebu as the oldest city in the Philippines. (PNA)