Capitol bares “Garbo” awardees tomorrow

As part of the province’s 439th founding anniversary, eight personalities from government, the academe, media, and the furniture industry will receive this year’s Garbo sa Sugbo Award during the Governor’s Night on August 8, Friday.

The awardees will be officially disclosed in a press conference tomorrow but Elizabeth Francia, executive secretary of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, said earlier the recipients have all brought pride to Cebu both locally and internationally.

Also tomorrow, the National Historical Institute will unveil the historical marker “Kapitolyo ng Cebu” at the Cebu Provincial Capitol building.

The construction of the present capitol building started in December 1936, following the plans prepared by Juan Arellano in 1930. It was inaugurated by President Manuel Quezon on June 14, 1938 during the administration of Governor Buenaventura Rodriguez. 

The old Capitol, which used to occupy a lot across the Plaza Independencia, was occupied by the Filipino revolutionaries in 1898 and by the American Military forces in 1899. 

“The Capitol is an outstanding historical and architectural landmark in the province of Cebu, a significant example of the classical revival style in the early twentieth century government and institutional buildings,” according to a statement of NHI, a national government agency mandated to promote and preserve Philippine cultural heritage through research, information dissemination, conservation, including the marking of historic sites and structures, and the maintenance and administration of national shrines, monuments and landmarks.

An exhibit of local products and souvenir items and an agricultural trade fair will also be opened tomorrow at the Capitol grounds. The provincial government will also launch the expanded clean and green program, the governor’s cup horse show and the 4th season of the “Guv’s Cup” volleyball tournament.

On the anniversary day itself on August 6, Capitol employees will try to outdo each other in musical numbers using Cebuano songs. Some male and female Capitol employees will also parade on the catwalk for the fashion show to present the proposed office uniforms for next year. Evening on Friday, guests will walk on the red carpet towards the social hall for the “Governor’s Ball.”

On August 9, 33 contingents from the different cities and municipalities will showcase their festivals at the Cebu International Convention Center for this year’s “Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals” wherein a festival queen would also be selected. — Garry B. Lao/JMO