The lantern decors go all to the way to the Marcelo B. Fernan bridge in the Mandaue City side.

CEBU CITY SIGN welcomes commuters as they enter the city at the north reclamation area, a few meters away from popular SM City Cebu mall. Click on photo to enlarge.

Along the islands in the reclamation highway are sculptures put up just last month and a profusion of flowers and ornamental palms planted at about the same time. There used to be only trees there.

Right smack in the middle of this beautified stretch is the Cebu International Convention Center, where most of the meetings during the Asean summit from December 10 to 15 will be held.

The City Government of Mandaue is sparing to expense to liven up the stretch since it is part of the ceremonial route where delegates will pass when going from their hotels in Cebu City to the CICC and to the Shangri-la in Mactan, where the heads of state will have their conferences.

The stretch will be closed for a few hours everyday starting this Sunday and until the closing ceremonies on Friday.

CEBU INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER. The P515-million building, a joint project of the Cebu Provincial and Mandaue City governments, was built in eight months. Click on photo to enlarge.

Finished at last save for a few finishing touches, the CICC was still lighted from top to bottom when we passed it at 1 a.m. today.

Last night was the lighting rites for the convention center and cultural dances were performed as well as a display of flags of countries participating in the Asean summit. Asean groups Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

The P515-million edifice, a joint project of the Cebu Provincial and Mandaue City governments, was built in eight months.

The transformation of the reclamation area mirrors improvements in other parts of Metro Cebu: roads have been paved with asphalt, major tourism spots restored and buildings getting new coats of paint. The Asean has been described as Cebu’s “coming-out party” and its officials and residents have been hard at work making it a great one.

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