TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 3 -- The city government here
has lined up various activities in the nationwide simultaneous Association of
Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) landmark lantern lighting on Aug. 8.
Mayor Cristina Romualdez said among the activities
are ASEAN Quiz Bee, poster and slogan making contest for students, and ASEAN
street parade around the main streets. The highlight is the lantern lighting at
7 p.m. at Kanhuraw Hill.
Tacloban City is one of the 50 areas in the country
included in the nationwide simultaneous lighting in observance of the ASEAN
50th anniversary.
“During the program, the flags of the 10
member-states will also be hoisted and will culminate with fireworks display,”
Romualdez said.
Aside from Tacloban, Ormoc City and Palo, Leyte
will join the 50 sites identified. Ormoc City will announce its activities this
week.
Palo town Mayor Remedios Petilla said the lantern
lighting activity will be an extension of their town fiesta celebration on Aug.
6.
They have also lined up interesting activities to
include day-time activities to be handled by the Department of Education, peace
walk from the town plaza to MacArthur Landing Memorial Park, fireworks display,
lantern lighting, and concert at the park.
There will be performances from top winning
Pintados-Kasadyaan Festivals of Festival winners - Buraburon Festival of
Burauen, Leyte; Buyogan Festival of Abuyog, Leyte; and Sanggutan of Barugo,
Leyte.
Meanwhile, cash prizes, certificates and trophies
await the winners in the various contests and participants of the parade will
be given Best in Costume, Best in Attendance and Jolliest Group awards.
The lantern was designed by artist Arvin Quiwa from
Pampanga, the province that is home to giant lanterns. It measures six feet
(1.83 meters) in diameter with 80 pieces of incandescent bulbs and is made of
fiber glass.
Its design features the national leaf
"anahaw", the national flower sampaguita and the traditional Mindanao
sailboat vinta and has the flags of the 10 ASEAN members.
It will be mounted in the 50 sites until November
2017.
The ASEAN was formed in 1967, by Indonesia,
Malaysia , Philippines, Singapore and Thailand to promote political and
economic cooperation and regional stability. Brunei joined in 1984, shortly
after its independence from the United Kingdom.
In 1995, Vietnam joined ASEAN as its seventh
member. Laos and Burma were admitted into full membership in July 1997 as ASEAN
celebrated its 30th anniversary. Cambodia became its tenth member in 1999.
This year, the ASEAN celebrates its golden
anniversary with President Rodrigo Duterte as its chairman. (Vicky C.
Arnaiz/PNA)
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