Restored Freedom Park ready by next month

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Mayor Mike Rama (3rd from left) and Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin N. Garcia (right) lead the unveiling of the expected picture of the Freedom Park once it is ready by October 2022. (PIO/Ruel Rosello)

By Jose Santino Bunachita
PIO Reporter

CEBU CITY (September 8, 2022) — A new and improved Freedom Park at the Carbon Public Market complex will be open to the public by next month.

The park will be in the exact location, and will look the same as it originally was when it was first built in the 1600, just as how Mayor Mike Rama wanted it to be.

The ceremonial groundbreaking and lowering of the time capsule for the Freedom Park, which contractor Cebu2World Development, Inc. will restore to its original design in the exact same spot. (PIO/Ruel Rosello)

A ceremonial ground-breaking was held for the project this morning.

“Ang akong vision man… bring back the beautiful history, and learn from the past,” Mayor Rama said in a speech at the ceremony.

He then led officials of the City and Cebu2World Development, Inc. (C2W) in the lowering of the time capsule at the project site, located right across the University of San Jose-Recoletos.

What the Freedom Park looked like prior to the demolition of the structures. The area became an extension of the Carbon Public Market because vendors were “temporarily” moved there after fire burned down Unit 2 in 1998. (PIO/File)

C2W President Louie Ferrer explained that the design of the new Freedom Park will be just like the original one. It will also have an obelisk at its center as well as lights. The park will have trees and walkways, offering a respite for people from the heat.

“Gusto namo nga ang mga bag-ong Sugboanon, pwede makapahuway diri. Pagsulod nila sa Carbon Market, ang mo-welcome sa ila is a park,” Ferrer said.

Originally, C2W proposed that the new Freedom Park will be located in a different area within the Carbon Public Market.

Gusto namo nga ang mga bag-ong Sugboanon, pwede makapahuway diri. Pagsulod nila sa Carbon Market, ang mo-welcome sa ila is a park.

CEBU2WORLD DEVELOPMENT, INC. PRESIDENT LOUIE FERRER

However, Mayor Rama insisted that the park be rebuilt in the same spot where it was. The plan decision was included in the supplemental joint venture agreement (JVA) that the city entered with Megawide Construction Corp., the mother company of C2W.

Ferrer said they expect to complete construction of the park by October.

The Freedom Park is part of the P8.5-billion Carbon Modernization Project, a joint venture between the City of Cebu and Megawide to transform the Carbon Market.

Mayor Mike Rama and other City Officials view the artifacts unearthed during the ground works made in preparation for the restoration of the Freedom Park into its original form. (PIO/Ruel Rosello)

Megawide Chairman and COE Edgar Saavedra also attended the ceremony, as well as Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin N. Garcia and a few city councilors.

Aside from the groundbreaking, C2W also unveiled a few artifacts that its workers have unearthed at the Freedom Park site, through the help of a team of archaeologists that conducted an impact assessment in the site.

These artifacts included Jingdezhen Chinese porcelain that date back to between 1580-1640, stoneware jar, roof tiles, butchered bones, pottery, and marine harvested shells.

Eminent Cebuano anthropologist Jojo Bersales discusses the history and archaeology of the significant finds unearthed during the ground works in preparation for the restoration of the Freedom Park. (Photo: Jojo Bersales’ FB account)

Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC) Commissioner Dr. Jose Eleazar “Jobers” Bersales explained that the Freedom Park was originally part of the early Augustinian estate outside the Spanish ciudad.

He said it was around the 1960s when the area took on the name Freedom Park, with the growing nationalist movement. Events were held there, Bersales said, including presidential campaigns by Camilo Osias, Ramon Magsaysay, and Diosdado Macapagal.

“Carbon is the soul of the whole of Cebu. There is no being called Cebu without Carbon,” said Mayor Rama.

What the entrance to the “Puso Village” would look like once the Carbon Modernization Project is finished.

C2W has already finished some aspects of the project, including the new Sto. Niño Chapel across City Hall and the new Bagsakan area.

It has also relocated the vendors who used to occupy the Freedom Park to the Carbon Market Interim Building.

After Freedom Park, C2W will be working on Block 1 and 2 which is where the future public market will be located, right beside the park.

A perspective on what the Carbon Market “Puso Village will look like. It is also envisioned to have an alley where all that is sold is the Cebu lechon.

By late October, C2W will also be launching “Puso”, which is an establishment within the Carbon Market complex that will showcase the “best of Cebu” products.

“We tapped exporters, even designers like Cary Santiago. They will have a place at the Puso Village. Naa sad ‘tay lechon alley. It will be one stretch nga puros lechon ang baligya,” Ferrer said.

He said their vision is for people to bring their visitors to Puso if they want to let them experience the best things that Cebu can offer. #