Cebu City forms new office to promote culture, history
To promote and push for the historic preservation plans of Cebu City, Mayor Tomas Osmeña has issued an executive order (EO) creating the Cultural and Historical Affairs Office (CHAO).
Osmeña, in his EO No. 26, said one of the objectives of CHAO is to coordinate with different instrumentalities in integrating historic preservations, community planning, and development of activities.
“Cebu City residents unified by a deep sense of pride in their common identity, cultural heritage and local patrimony and imbibed with the spirit of nationalism and strong commitment to the protection and dissemination of Cebuano legacy,” reads the vision and mission of CHAO.
CHAO Officer-In-Charge Annabeth Cuizon said the office has an upcoming event dubbed as “Sugboano'ng Kultura ug Turismo,” a competition to look for the best “balak” or poem and “mugbong sugilanon” or short story using the Cebuano dialect.
Cuizon said the intention of the project is to emphasize the need in cultivating and promoting the Cebuano dialect in relation to the celebration of the Buwan ng Wika.
She said the entries that will be submitted will be owned by CHAO since the office is also planning to publish a literary magazine in the future.
CHAO is calling for entries to be submitted on or before August 28 at its office at the Rizal Memorial Library and Museum or to email their entries to cebucitychao@gmail.com.
The prizes for both categories will be P5,000 for first place, P3,000 for second place, and P2,000 for the third place. The “Sugboano'ng Kultura ug Turismo” is an open contest, regardless of age and gender. Everyone is eligible to join.
To join, one can submit an original piece that have not won in any competition; avoid using language that is offensive, derogatory, and disrespectful; entries should be on short white bond paper placed inside a brown envelope together with the registration form.
On August 29, screening for all entrants will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
As for EO No. 26, Osmeña said the creation of CHAO is pursuant to the Local Government Code of 1991 which states that the local government unit (LGU) should ensure and support the preservation and enrichment of culture, among others.
Also, Osmeña said Section 14 of Republic Act No. 1006 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 also mandates LGUs to establish cultural offices that will maintain an inventory of property under its jurisdiction.
The mayor said the City Council passed City Ordinance 2474 declaring the last week of May as Cebu City Heritage Week.
Under the ordinance, the involvement of the barangays and public schools are needed for the conduct of the series of activities. These activities will be submitted to the City's CHAO.
Osmeña said CHAO will be composed of its officerin-charge, museum administrator, and an administrative assistant.