Cebu creative group vies for Unesco tag

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu creative community plans to initiate big design-related events in Cebu to push its bid to be recognized as a Creative City of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) under the design category.

Organizers of the now ongoing Cebu Design Week led by prime movers Marie A. Booth, Butch Carungay, and Laurie Boquiren hope that Cebu will be able to make it in its application to Unesco with results coming out in November.

Holding events to promote the creative edge of Cebu like the Cebu Design Week reinforces the strength of the province to get the stamp as Unesco recognized City. Such declaration is seen to further boost the tourism receipts of the province, as well as push up the design related businesses.

Cebu City has sought classification from Unesco as a creative city under the design category, Butch Carungay earlier announced.

The member cities of the Unesco Creative Cities Network represent seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, Music and Design.

According to Carungay, Cebu City is applying for the highest category which is design.

He said the action plan included the setting up of a museum for design.

Booth, who is the overall chairperson of Cebu Design Week 2019, said if Cebu will be able to make it as Unesco creative city, it will bring in a lot of opportunities for the entire creative community in Cebu.

CDW envisions connecting, creating and cultivating the region’s business and design sectors.

The week-long celebration has started last Sept. 8 and will culminate on the 15th. It is being held at the IC3 Pavilion.

CDW’s main event starts on the 13th to the 15th of this month.

Boquiren added that providing a venue for creative people in Cebu to network and create a community is among the important tools to help push for the declaration of Cebu as a legitimate design destination by Unesco.