DTI-Cebu to host ASEAN Design Week in April

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry will host the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Design Week in Cebu in April this year.

Nelia Navarro, assistant regional head at DTI-Central Visayas, said this is part of the events Cebu is hosting for the ASEAN Summit this year.

Navarro said that design-related events were usually done in Manila but organizers want to bring it in Cebu this year in time for the ASEAN Summit, which the Philippines will be hosting this year.

"Our MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) had been exhibiting in Manila. This year, they'll bring it here in Cebu in time for the ASEAN Summit," Navarro told The FREEMAN. 

The trade official said this is a great opportunity for local entrepreneurs to showcase their products and talents.

The creative industry includes, among others, people engaged in music, animation, publishing, painting, and web and games development.

Cebu and Bohol will also be hosting some of the ASEAN meetings on the same month. 

The official further shared that she has a dream of making Cebu City accredited as Creative City of Design by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

She said there is a need to urge the local government of Cebu City to submit an application for the "Creative City of Design" title.

As part of the requirements of the UNESCO, a city seeking to be accredited has to come up with a work plan or road map for the design industry in the city.

Based on UNESCO's website, cities that are part of its creative network will have enough to fully integrate culture and creativity into their development plans.

It can be recalled that in 2008, the British Council recognized Cebu City as the Creative Capital of the Philippines. 

In Southeast Asia, Singapore and the Indonesian city of Bandung are the first two ASEAN cities to be part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Together with the two are Budapest in Hungary, Detroit in the US, Kaunas in Lithuania and Puebla in Mexico which joined the 16 existing member Cities of Design in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).  

The UCCN was established in 2004 and is comprised of 116 cities worldwide in seven creative fields namely design, crafts and folk art, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts and music.

UNESCO said joining the network will require cities tp commit to "sharing best practices” and “develop partnerships involving the public and private sectors as well as civil society in order to strengthen the creation, production, distribution and dissemination of cultural activities, goods and services.”

The city should also commit to develop hubs of creativity and innovation and broaden opportunities for creators and professionals in the cultural sector and improve access to and participation in cultural life.

Metro Cebu is also currently part of the Southeast Asian Creative Cities Network (SEACCN).

It was in June 2015 when Cebu hosted the 4th SEACCN.

SEACCN, created in April 2014, is a network for creative cities and clusters in SE Asia.

Cebu, having been known for its creative sector, represents the Philippines in the association along with other secondary cities in SE Asia namely: Chiang Mai, Thailand; Penang, Malaysia; and Bandung, Indonesia.

The association has interest in urban development, heritage and arts, all art forms, crafts, innovation, digital content, functional design and entrepreneurship, among others. (FREEMAN)