Members of the Baguio City Council, during the regular session last September 12, discussed a proposed resolution seeking to declare the month of September of every year as Multicultural Month in the City of Baguio.
Under the proposed resolution authored by Councilor Leandro Yangot, Jr., the celebration of Baguio City’s multicultural identity shall coincide with the celebration of Baguio City’s Charter Day anniversary.
The City Administrator’s Office under the City Mayor’s Office shall be tasked to coordinate with the concerned government offices and civil society organizations for the formulation of programs and guidelines necessary for the effective observance of the Multicultural Month.
“This celebration will remind us of where we come from and the value of acceptance and respect for each other. It will encourage us to reflect on the diversity of each region which is critical to policy-making, enforcing anti-discrimination laws, and allocating funds for the community,” Yangot wrote in his proposal.
Invited by the city council as a resource speaker, City Tourism Operations Officer Aloysius Mapalo said the proposal is a welcome move towards a deeper understanding and appreciation of Baguio City as a melting pot of various cultures.
Mapalo said a week-long exhibit highlighting different cultures was spearheaded by the city government in 2019 but was discontinued because of the COVID-10 pandemic. The said activity formed part of the Baguio Day celebration and was strongly supported by the different communities in the city.
He suggested that the cultural exhibit done in 2019 may be scaled up and institutionalized as one of the activities during the proposed celebration of the multicultural month.
“This is going to be unique in the entire country because there is no celebration of cultural diversity at the national level,” he added.
Taking into consideration the comments and suggestions raised by the city council members, the proposed resolution was returned to the city council’s Committee on Tourism, Special Events, and Playgrounds for further study. **Jordan G. Habbiling