Visayas holds Social Development Week in Cebu City
With the theme “Ato ni Day, Ato ni Bay”, Social Development Week celebrations will be held in Cebu City at the Ayala Activity Center from March 8 to 12, 2006.
The theme succinctly captures the region’s pride and place in history and in nation building. It is a paean to community solidarity expressed through a wide array of local products and services. It highlights the tolerance and equality that are the hallmarks of its culture and heritage.
The Visayas events in will pay tribute to all that makes the region tick: from the entrepreneurial spirit of its people, the participatory nature of business, simplified and streamlined government and civil society engagement. All these elements combine to make the Visayas a beacon of hope for a better Philippines.
A new feature in this year’s events is localizing Social Development Week and bringing it to the Visayas and Mindanao. This added dimension will give the regions ample opportunity to showcase their development initiatives, discuss common concerns in a wider arena, highlight the partnerships that sustain the gains, and inject local flavor and context to the whole celebration.
Through cultural presentations, enterprise demonstrations, product displays and exhibits – the Social Development Week in the Visayas will celebrate harmony in diversity and entrepreneurship amid challenges – and provide a big help in its efforts to forge ahead despite political uncertainties.
Against the backdrop of the International Women’s Day Celebration, the Social Development Week starting March 8, 2006, is a reminder of the important role and contributions women play in development.
At the national level, the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) has been hosting Social Development Week since 1998. This event is designed to further strengthen the efforts of its member networks and partner institutions, as well as to increase the awareness and participation of the general public towards a progressive Philippines. Social development work is founded on capacity-building, livelihood promotion and community organizing among the underprivileged sectors of our society.