City Launches ‘Pasko sa Sugbo’

The Christmas spirit is truly around the corner as Cebu City government officially launched the ‘Pasko sa Sugbo 2013’ on December 1 at the Fuente Rotunda.

A short program was held to officially start this year’s celebration. One of the highlights was the lighting of the giant Christmas tree, sponsored by the M. Lhuillier Group of Companies for eleven years now, and the grand fireworks display.

In his message, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama urged everyone not to postpone the celebration of Christmas despite the calamities that the country is going through. With hundreds of affected individuals taking refuge in the city, celebrating the Yuletide season will give them hope amid adversities.

The event was graced with the Lhullier family, Councilor Sisinio Andales who also heads the Cebu City Youth Development Commission (CCYDC), Parks and Playground Chairman and consultant Ado Macaraya, former councilors Joy Pesquera and Maning Legaspi, Miss Cebu 2013 with the Miss Cebu 2014 candidates.

Now on its twelfth year, Pasko sa Sugbo offers nightly cultural shows to the public for free inside the Fuente circle which is organized by the CCYDC under the Mayor’s Office. Different civic organizations, universities, and institutions are scheduled to perform every night starting from 6 pm onwards.

Rama also revealed to the public that the city will start the long-delayed Fuente Rotunda project soon with the Lhuilliers who offered to shoulder the expenses after finalizing the documents of rotunda’s ownership.

The 120-feet giant Christmas tree will stay at the rotunda until the Sinulog celebration. Decorating will also be finished soon since it was seriously damaged by the super typhoon Yolanda last month. (Gessa Gunhuran, PIO Staff)