IEC event venue gets makeover

CEBU, Philippines - The Lapu-Lapu City government has started repainting the walls of Hoopsdome in Barangay Gun-ob which will be the venue of the International Eucharistic Congress Youth Day on January 28.

The event is expected to gather around 5,000 youth delegates from different parts of the world.

Sharon Baguio, operations manager of the city-run facility, said the repainting works started a few days ago.

She added that the inner part of the facility will also be repainted while broken toilets are set to be fixed soon.

The facility has four restrooms.

To avoid power interruptions, Baguio said they will be closely coordinating with the Mactan Electric Company to ensure ample supply of power on that day.

The delegates will arrive on January 27. On the day of their arrival, the city’s six parishes will each host a barrio fiesta-themed welcome dinner for the participants.

“Kung naa’y schedule sa brownout ana nga day, mohangyo mi nga ipa-move og laing adlaw. Naa pud mi standby nga generator, just in case (naa’y emergency),” Baguio said.

The Hoopsdome, according to Baguio, can accommodate up to 5,000 people if the basketball court is also occupied.

“Kung wala’y apil ang court, 3,800 ang comfort sitting capacity sa Hoopsdome,” she said.

The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office has earlier said it will deploy personnel to secure the event.

The Philippine Red Cross-Lapu-Lapu/Cordova Chapter will also deploy volunteer first aiders on field for the Jericho Walk from Hoopsdome going to Mandani Bay in the North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City.

The Youth Day to be hosted by Lapu-Lapu City is part of the activities of the 51st  IEC which will take place mostly in Cebu City between January 24 to 31 next year.

According to the IEC 2016 website (www.iec2016.ph), a Eucharistic Congress is an international gathering of people aimed at promoting an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church.

The Roman Ritual De Sacra Communione et de Cultu Mysterii Eucharistici extra Missam defines the Congress as “a pause for commitment and prayer to which a particular Church invites the universal Church.”

During this time “the celebration of the Eucharist becomes the center and vortex of all forms of piety, of theological and pastoral reflections, of social commitment.”

The Philippines last hosted IEC in 1937 in Manila. Over 600,000 people were believed to have attended the religious procession that culminated the congress.

This year, organizers expect around 15,000 to flock to Cebu for the congress.  (FREEMAN)