2025 Tri-City Cooperative Month Celebration Unites Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu Lapu-Lapu City – October 4, 2025

In a historic first, various cooperatives from Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City gather for the Tri-City Cooperative Month Celebration at Hoops Dome, Lapu-Lapu City on October 4, 2025. The event was anchored on the theme “Cooperatives: United in Purpose and Action, Sharing Prosperity to Build a Better World”.

A grand motorcade at 6:00AM kickstarted the celebration. From Cebu City, the convoy made its way to merge with the contingents of Mandaue, then onward to Lapu-Lapu City where an estimated number of 2,000 participants came to celebrate.

Among the highlights of the program was a solemn recitation of the Oratio Imperata, honoring those affected by the recent magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck theprovince of Cebu, with its epicenter in Bogo City. This moment of reflection shows the deeper mission of cooperatives: to uplift communities emotionally and socially, especially during times of crisis and calamities.

Hon. Ma. Cynthia King-Chan, Mayor of Lapu-Lapu City, delivered the welcome message, highlighting the city’s pride in hosting the event and the role of cooperatives in inclusive local development.

CDA 7 Regional Director Cristina Villamil delivered the event rationale. In her speech, she emphasized that this celebration is more than just a gathering, that it can be a platform for action, encouraging cooperatives to mobilize resources, to help the victims and survivors of the earthquake.

With this, an onsite cash donation as initiated by the organizing committee through “PESOforCEBU – Tabang Gikan sa Kooperatiba, an initial call for cooperativism aims to encourage the participating cooperatives to drop any amount of help for those affected individuals.

Cebu City Councilor and Chairman of the Committee on Cooperatives, Hon. Mikel F. Rama, also attended and delivered a strong message of support for continued collaboration and innovation within the sector.

One of the event’s cultural highlights was the musical performance by the Basak Sudtonggan Kabataan Strings, a talented local youth ensemble that brought artistry and energy to the stage.

Adding excitement to the program was the first ever Tri-City Cooperative Festival Queen competition. Candidates from Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu proudly represented their cities with graceful and festive performances. Lapu-Lapu City was crowned as the First Cooperative Festival Queen, much to the delight of the home crowd.

As the first ever coming together of the cooperatives in Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City, the program for the day included a symbolic turnover of hosting responsibilities.  As the conclusion of the day’s meaningful celebration, Cebu City heartily accepted to be the next host for the 2026 Tri-City Cooperative Month celebration, with the hope  of making this event an annual tradition. Hon. Mikel F. Rama represented Cebu City and accepted the responsibility with pride.

There were also fun games and prizes for the participants and wrapping up the program was a lively closing community dance that brought leaders, members, and guests dance together in joy and celebration.

The First Tri-City Cooperative Month Celebration was a defining moment for the cooperative movement in Region 7, a testament to what can be achieved when local governments, cooperatives, and communities align toward a shared goal.

This event proved that, indeed, cooperatives are stronger when united in purpose, in action, and in building a future where prosperity is shared by all.                                                    // Liv Yedda Marie Pajaron CDS II