Shades of Imeldific as Cebu spiffs up for Asean summit (tags)
For many people in the central Philippine island of Cebu, next week’s gathering of Southeast Asian leaders will be a hindrance rather than the economic blessing these sort of events are often dressed up to be. The presence of some 6,000 armed police and troops, stepped up security and road closures for many locals spell just one thing—”chaos.” From December 11 to 14, virtually all schools and government offices in Cebu City and the nearby towns of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu will close down for a four-day holiday for the duration of the summit.