Capitol kicks off anniversary activities

CEBU, Philippines — A month-long celebration to mark the 456th Founding Anniversary of Cebu Province opened yesterday with provincial, city, and town officials rallying behind the new leadership at the Capitol under Governor Pamela Baricuatro.

The celebration kicked off with a ceremonial flag-raising at the Capitol grounds, attended by Governor Baricuatro, Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco, local mayors, and key officials from various local government units (LGUs).

A symbolic tree-planting ceremony followed, with Baricuatro and other provincial leaders planting 21 jackfruit trees—part of Cebu’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability.

The event also marked the official opening of the “Tabo sa Kapitolyo”, a week-long agri-trade fair that brought together 51 LGUs from across the province—including Cebu City—and 31 private exhibitors showcasing locally produced goods, crafts, and delicacies.

The municipality of Dumanjug was unable to participate in the agri-trade fair.

All participating LGUs were provided booths free of charge, while private exhibitors paid a minimal fee of P2,500 for non-food booths and P3,000 for food booths. The event runs from August 4 to 8 at the Capitol grounds.

Baricuatro urged Cebuanos to support the event, emphasizing the importance of empowering local farmers and entrepreneurs.

“Palihug unta visit mo diri sa atong Tabo sa Kapitolyo para matabangan nato ang farmers ug exhibitors. Daghan kaayo’g nindot nga products ug barato ra,” she said.

She also expressed excitement about the quality of Cebu’s local products and vowed to promote them internationally.

“Daghan kaayo ta’g produkto nga angay nato i-promote sa international market and I have seen a few nga promising kaayo,” Baricuatro added.

She stressed that the 456th anniversary is not just a commemoration, but a call for unity and collective progress.

“Nakita gyud nako what happens kung magkahiusa ang tanan. This is one venue karon nga makita nato nga kung magkahiusa, we have a lot nga ma-accomplish,” she said.

Vice Governor Soco echoed her sentiments, describing the milestone as the beginning of a collaborative and reform-driven provincial administration.

“Moving forward, importante kaayo ang concrete steps nga ma-improve unsay kinahanglan ma-improve ug mapadayon kon unsay maayong buhaton alang sa mga Sugboanon,” Soco said.

Cebu Province was founded on August 6, 1569, when it became the first province created under Spanish colonial rule.

This year’s celebration took a notable shift in tone. Rather than lavish events, the Baricuatro administration is focusing on public service—highlighted by a series of medical and surgical missions dubbed as “caravan of services”.

Baricuatro announced that only half of the allocated P25 million anniversary budget will be used for celebratory events. The rest will fund critical healthcare services, particularly in far-flung island and mountain barangays.

The “caravan of services” will offer essential medical interventions, including gallbladder removal, hernia repair, breast and thyroid surgeries, orthopedic procedures, and treatment of rare conditions like anal fistulas and parotid (bayook) removal.

Also included are minor surgeries for cysts and lumps, dental and eye check-ups, HIV screenings, and legal consultations provided by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).

The province partnered with multiple organizations for the initiative, including SuiGeneris Inc. Mission, Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF), All-Terrain Medical Relief Organization (AMRO), Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital (CDU), and the University of Cebu Medical Center (UCMed).

The first leg of the caravan will be held on August 7–8 in the island towns of Poro and Pilar in Camotes, in collaboration with the PhilHealth Konsulta Caravan.

Major surgical missions will follow on August 9–10 in Bogo City, with a non-surgical outreach in Bantayan on August 15–16.

Additional surgical missions are set for: August 16–17 in Danao (with Chong Hua and UCMed); August 23–24 in Balamban (with AMRO); and August 30–31 in Carcar City (with VSMMC).

According to Provincial Information Officer Ainjeliz de la Torre-Orong, the traditional festival associated with the anniversary has been shelved this year in favor of meaningful service-oriented activities.

Other scheduled events include a Provincial Youth Fair in partnership with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), and a province-wide Employees’ Day.

Among the highlights is a fashion show this August featuring the new Capitol employee uniforms for 2026, designed by renowned Cebuano designer Cary Santiago.

An open forum dubbed as “Probinsya Para sa Katawhan” will also be held, where Governor Baricuatro will engage directly with sectoral representatives.

The highlight of the month-long celebration will be Baricuatro’s first State of the Province Address (SOPA), where she is expected to unveil her administration’s policy agenda, development programs, and updates on issues inherited from the previous administration.

“There are a lot of revelations to be made,” Baricuatro said.

“After all, it’s about transparency, right? It's not about hitting people or former officials. I owe it to the public to reveal what has to be revealed,” she added. — (FREEMAN)