Cebu City to declare Oct. 1 as Korean Day
By Fayette C. Riñen
‘every 1st Saturday of Oct. is annual Korean Day in Cebu City’
CEBU CITY, Sept. 12 (PIA) -- Apart from being the top foreign tourists that visit Cebu everyday with a significant contribution to the growth of the local tourism industry and thousands already making their home here, the Cebu City Government plans to hold every first Saturday of October as annual Korean Day.
Cebu City Councilor Margarita Osmeña who supports the move to declare October 1 as Korean Day in Cebu City said the occasion will provide the Korean community here to showcase their tradition and customs and foster close ties with the Cebuanos for better understanding.
“You are part of Cebu City and you are not just visitors here,” Osmeña previously said in a news report.
Osmeña acknowledged the Korean fever in the country including in the city with the wave of Korean products in the market today and even the hairstyles and make-up. Filipinos today also go ‘gaga’ over Korean pop songs and telenovelas invading the local entertainment scene, this is observed.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) -7 also reported that Koreans are the number one foreign visitors coming to Cebu followed by Japanese and the rest coming from other countries like the United States and Europe.
Over 25,000 Korean tourists visit Cebu monthly or an average of 1,000 as daily flights from Korea land at the Mactan Cebu International Airportsuch as Korean Air, Air Busan and Asiana Air.
A three-day festive atmosphere will greet the occasion as on the wraps are a planned street-dancing festival for the Koreans, concerts and film showings of Korean star performers and pageants as well as representatives of different Korean associations including the Korean News Agency and Consul and the Cebu City Council are currently finalizing the event.
The Cebu City Government on the other hand, is willing to provide financial assistance for the occasion.
The Korean Government has already approved the conduct of a movie festival in Cebu City as its embassy in the country will coordinate on the proposed move to invite Korean artists and the holding of street dancing festival here. (PIA-Cebu)