Cebu’s north reclamation area transformed for Asean summit

By Cebu Network
Published December 7th, 2006

The stretch of road at the north reclamation area in Mandaue City used to be dark and deserted, a place you do not pass, if you can help it. It was ablaze at 1 a.m. today, 3 days before the opening ceremonies for the Asean Leaders’ Summit in Cebu, with light from the huge illuminated Cebu City sign, new streetlights that dot the Mandaue North Reclamation highway, and star-shaped lanterns hanging from posts along Ouano Avenue.

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.

More photos click on images to enlarge:

3 Responses to “Cebu’s north reclamation area transformed for Asean summit”

1. Nikki Escalona says:
   1June 6th, 2007 at 9:25 am

   hi! im doing my architectural thesis this yr on a chinese cultural center/center for performing arts and i want it located in cebu. i saw ur website and found out about this north reclamation area in mandaue. i think it would a perfect site for my proposal. is there anyone i can talk to about this? i have been site hunting all summer. hope you could help! =)

2. cebu real estate says:
   2November 30th, 2007 at 5:27 pm

   this reclamation has no buildings is it good ?

3. Allysa Flores says:
   3May 29th, 2008 at 3:48 am

   I was hopin to find a cheap pension house somewhere near the north reclamation area but still i havent,, they were all too far,,, hope u give me advice of a hotel at a walking distance to SM cebu.. were only gonna be there to buy school supplies… hoping anybody would reply as early as today of friday… pls….I’m just 13 years old and yet,, desperate to help my mom find an affordable but comfortable place to stay in…

   pls reply,, pls just email,,

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