BAGUIO CITY – The city will mark the 107th Baguio Day celebration on Sept. 1 with colorful and meaningful activities top-billed by the traditional program at 8 a.m. at the Baguio Convention Center and a civic parade down Session Road.
Presidential Communications Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar will keynote the program with this year’s theme, “Fostering Meaningful Change Through Synergy and Cooperation.”
Rep. Marquez Go, Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Vice Mayor Edison Bilog will also deliver their messages during the program.
A highlight will be the awarding of the five outstanding citizens by the Society of Outstanding Citizens of Baguio (SOCOB) headed by Dr. Priscilla Macansantos.
This year’s awardees are Atty. Augustin Laban III and Dr. John Tinoyan for Public Service, Atty. Richard Stone Pooten for Business/Service, Arch. Gloria Vergara for Community Development and Melanie Rulla-Saro for Professional Service.
Another feature of the program will be the kick-off of the 22nd National Crime Prevention Week celebration with the theme, “Hawak Kamay Tungo sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran.” To be led by National Police Commission regional director Editha Puddoc, the launch will be marked with an overview and audio-visual presentation, recitation of the Crime Prevention Pledge and the blowing of whistles.
After the program, the traditional parade will follow with a portion to come in a diorama or tableau-style to enliven and give more meaning to the traditional procession.
City administrator and Baguio Day executive committee action officer Atty. Carlos Canilao said that as an innovation, the diorama “will depict the city’s multi-culturalism” through the participation of the various tribes of the Cordilleras, the different ethnic groups from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and the foreign communities.
Foreign nationals from Japan, China, Korea and even the Middle East who have made the city their home will send delegates to the parade to show that they are one with the native residents in celebrating the event, according to Councilor Elmer Datuin.
Mayor Domogan said that through this the city gives recognition to the different tribes now residing in the city led by the Ibalois, the original inhabitants of the city.
“We are recognizing that our city is now a metropolitan area, not anymore a city for a single tribe but a mixture of the different tribes,” he said.
“This will show that despite the diversity of the race and culture, we are united in our quest for development for our city,” city tourism officer Benedicto Alhambra said.
Canilao said the tableau will also depict the city’s history. “We will show the progression of Baguio from its beginnings to the occupation of the Spanish, American and Japanese and to what it is now.”
The tableau-style parade was revived recently upon the suggestion of former city public information officer Ramon Dacawi to add color and meaning to the traditional Baguio Day procession.
Dacawi recalled that the diorama-style parade which was mounted in years past and annotated by the late newsman Freddie Mayo made a big impression to the public prompting the then city council to approve a measure to make it a regular Baguio Day undertaking.
This year’s parade will also feature the Miss Baguio finalists and delegates from the barangays, civic groups, schools, business and other sectors.
Half of Session Road (from the lanes fronting PNB Session and Jollibee) will be closed from 12 midnight of Aug. 31 to 12 midnight of Sept. 1 as per Mayor Domogan’s Administrative Order No. 96 series of 2016 to give way for the various fun-filled activities scheduled for the day.
Road activities include mini-concerts sponsored by Smart Communications and Globe Telecom, zumba party, band exhibitions, pocket events to exhibit arts and culture, chalk art painting, dance battle, cosplay competition and a Pokemon Go lure party and contests for which Pokemon stops were set up along the road.
Sidewalk cafes will also be set up by the business establishments for promenaders.
A fireworks display will be staged at 7 p.m.
The Baguio Day calendar of activities was launched last Monday with a call to action and cooperation by Canilao.
Mayor Domogan expressed hopes that the people will translate into action the Baguio Day theme and contribute to effecting a meaningful change by working together.
Lending an environmental dimension to the celebration is a tree-planting activity to be conducted by city government employees on Sept. 16. A total of 5,000 seedlings donated by SM will be planted at the city-owned property in Sto. Tomas barangay.
Residents are encouraged to do their own planting at home to support the regreening program.
Other highlights of the Baguio Day calendar are the Baguio Health Fair held last Aug. 27; “Astig Ako Go Lang ng Go Battle of the Champs” on Aug. 29 8 a.m. at the Baguio Convention Center; Beautiful Baguio Photo Contest (details to be announced);
1 Sept. – Baguio Day Multi-Cultural Show, 1 p.m. BCC; Special Monthly Raffle Draw for Mid-Year Pabuenas, Baguio Center Mall; 3 Sept. — Search for Miss Baguio Pre-Pageant, BCC; 8 Sept. — Mr. Baguio (Nick Domalsin Cup), BCC; 10 Sept. — Mass Blood Donation, Baguio Center Mall; 17 Sept. — Miss Baguio Grand Coronation Night, BCC; 22 Sept. — Little Miss Baguio, BCC; 24 Sept. — Baguio City Grand Charter Day Jobs and Livelihood Fair, BCC; 25 Sept. — 35th Founding Anniversary of the Good News Community Church, BCC; 26-28 and 30 Sept. — Annual TVET “Ubdan Daing” Skills Festival, BCC; and 29 Sept. — Mass Wedding, BCC;
Aug. – Sept. — Baguio Volleyball League (Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan Cup), PFVR Gym; Aug. – Sept. — Baguio Day Duckpin Bowling Tournament, St. Vincent Bowling Lanes; 22 Aug. – 9 Sept. — Baguio Day Amateur Billiards Tournament, Slaughterhouse Compound Billiard Hall; 26-28 Aug. — 120K Baguio Day National Darts Tournament, Engineer’s Hill Covered Court; 9-11 Sept. — Baguio Day National Arnis Championships 2016, Baguio Convention Center; 17-18 Sept. — 34th Non-Master Chess Tournament, Baguio Center Mall; 22-24 Sept. — SLU Intramurals, Saint Louis University; 24 Sept. — Baguio Day Run, Burnham Park Lake Drive; 24 Sept., 8am-3pm — SLU Cheerdance Competition, Saint Louis University; 24-25 Sept. — Baguio Day Wushu Invitational Tournament, PFVR Gym;
2 Oct. — Baguio Day Karatedo Regional Championship BCHS Gymnasium; and Baguio Day Tennis Tournament, Baguio Day Badminton Tournament and the Baguio Day Scrabble Tournamentof which details will be announced later.
Activities at SM City Baguio are: 22–31 Aug. — Cybermonth Nationwide Gadget Sale; 22–26 Aug., 11am and 4pm — Dreamworks Mascot Parade; 27 Aug. — Smart x Youtube Event; 27 Aug. — Mobile Phone Photography; 27 Aug., 4 pm — JK Labajo; 27-28 Aug., 11 am-1 pm and 3 pm – Dreamworks Mascot Parade with Tenants; 28-31 Aug. — MCI ECS Cybermonth Weekend Gadget Fair; 27-31 Aug. — Project Monsoon; and 2 Sept., 3 pm — Baguio Galing Mo, Ipakita Mo. ** Aileen P. Refuerzo