By Chito Chavez Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has approved an ordinance declaring the Araneta Center, known as the Cubao Growth Center, as one of the city’s newest tourism districts. (Araneta Center Inc./ MANILA BULLETIN) Ordinance 2796-2018, introduced by Councilor and Committee on Culture and Heritage Chairperson Kate Abigael Coseteng, cited Araneta Centers’ six decades of success and breakthrough transformation as the country’s pioneer in commercial center operations for the distinction. The ordinance noted that Araneta Center also pioneered the hosting of historic events as well as the building of shopping malls in one destination. “Cubao also introduced the central bus station concept in the country with buses that reach as far south as Davao,” the ordinance reads. The measure also mentioned Cubao’s old and new institutions such as the Farmers’ Market, Kia Theater (formerly the New Frontier Theatre), Novotel Manila, Sining Saysay: Philippine History in Art, Cubao X, Smart Araneta Coliseum, among others. As a tourism district, Cubao is expected to undertake massive promotion and marketing campaigns of different significant events and activities. These include concerts, media launches, food and book fairs, art competitions, cultural shows, sporting events, and other activities through the use of the brochures, LED screens, signage, tarpaulins, city websites, social media, and ads on TV, print, and radio in partnership with the Quezon City Tourism Department (QCTD). The QC Tourism District for its part will hold educational guided tours of Araneta Center Cubao for visitors and guests. Araneta Center, Inc. is set to provide the QC government a location for the visitor information center and souvenir shop which will be equipped with information materials.