BAGUIO CITY – Congressman Mark Go, Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Vice-Mayor Edison Bilog and councilor Elmer Datuin led other city officials in the countdown and lighting of the Giant Christmas Tree at Rose Garden, Burnham Park, at exactly 6 p.m. of December 1, officially ushering in this year’s “Christmas in Baguio” festivities.
In their Yuletide messages, Go emphasized the importance of putting “Christ in the center of our lives” while Domogan encouraged everyone to “internalize the true meaning of Christmas as we share the joy, love and peace the season brings not only during Christmas time but every day of the year”.
The lighting was preceded by the singing of Christmas Carols by students of Baguio City High School (BCHS), Pines City National High School and Asia Pacific Theological Seminary composed of several nationalities. A Nativity Scene performance was also presented by BCHS theater group.
The highly-anticipated Saint Louis University’s Lantern Parade commenced at 6:30 pm thru the city’s main thoroughfares joined by city officials. This was followed by a Christmas Concert at Upper Session Road with the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) combo and other local bands.
A fireworks display occurred at 9 pm at the Athletic Bowl to end the day’s activities with a bang.
The four-storey high conical-shaped traditional Christmas tree was designed free-of-charge by Archt. Aries Go in coordination with the City Buildings and Architecture Office headed by Engr. Nazita Banez while Loly Gomez of Philippine Treasures assisted in its decorations.
The whole of Session Road was closed to traffic on December 1 as it was the venue of various events including the grand Christmas children-parents mardigras parade that started 8 am and participated in by thousands of day care center children in colorful costumes together with their parents and teachers.
This was followed by a program at Athletic Bowl where the Congressman and Mayor gave their Christmas messages. The “Silahis ng Pasko 2016” Christmas Extravaganza is on its 43rd year and has been an integral part of the city’s Christmas celebration.
The annual Yuletide offering is sponsored by the city government thru the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in coordination with the National Correspondents Club of Baguio (NCCB) headed by newsman and former councilor Nars Padilla.
On December 3 is Share A Joy, Baguio children’s Christmas fun alley and raffle joys with little helping hands, newspaper boys, shoeshine boys, baggage boys and bag sellers. A palaro and raffle for gift items is set at 9 am at the Camp John Hay Bell Amphitheater hosted by the John Hay Management Corporation.
A PMA Cadet’s Day at the Park is set on December 4 with a silent drill exhibition 10 am at Athletic Bowl followed by a PMA band concert 2:30 pm at Malcolm Square.
On December 3 and 4 is the Quest for the Baguio Lucky Christmas Family 2016 who will be given a red carpet reception, accommodations, sightseeing tours including courtesy calls to ranking government officials.
Immaculate Conception Day festivities is on December 8 starting 9 am with a Thanksgiving Holy Mass for Peace, Solidarity and Progress at the NCCB Shrine of the Brown Madonna, Km. 7, Asin Road, Tuba, Benguet.
On December 11 is the Baguio City High School dancing and singing Christmas Tree starting 2 am at Malcolm Square hosted by the Baguio-Benguet Market Plaza Multi-Purpose Cooperative and the SLU-SVP Housing Cooperative.
A Special Day for Special People program is set on December 17 at 6:30 am with a wheelathon for the orthopedically impaired and walkathon for the visually impaired at South Drive and chess tournament for the blind at Malcolm Square.
At 8:30 am is the Children’s palaro participated by handicapped youngsters at Malcolm Square.
The Quest for the Baguio Lucky Foreign Visitors will be conducted from December 9 to 12 in partnership with the Department of Tourism-CAR and offices of the La Trinidad Mayor and Benguet Governor.
On December 25 is the Quest for the Baguio Lucky Christmas Baby hosted by the CSWDO, the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and Baguio balikbayans. Padilla, in a Santa Claus costume, will also walk the city’s roads on this day.
The Baguio Lucky Balikbayan and CAR Sportsmen Day is on December 30 starting 9 am with a welcome reception, presentation of tokens and conduct of a “Pinikpikan” food festival at Sunshine Park.
On January 1, 2017 is the Quest for the Lucky New Year Baby hosted by the CSWDO, OSCA and Baguio Elderly Assembly.
The Silahis ng Pasko 2016 ends with the 29th Annual Kafagway Sports Award Program starting 9 am at Malcolm Square with the presentation of Achievement and Proficiency Awards to the year’s outstanding athletes, sportsmen and supporters of sports development in Baguio and Cordillera.
Other activities include the BAHAG airsoft tournament on December 3 and 4 at Melvin Jones football grounds; Baguio Volkswagen Week on December 5 to 11; PXC Laban MMA Baguio 5 at Baguio convention center on December 10; Alaska Merry Crema’s at Juan Luna Drive on December 4; UP Pasiklaban and Torch Parade on December 9;
Volkswagen club of the Philippines and Baguio Grand Volks Canao on December 10 and 11 at Lake Drive and Melvin Jones football grounds; Christmas Cantata at the University of Baguio gym on December 13 to 16; Misa de Gallo at Baguio convention center and other churches on 16 to 24; Gigmiksikan and Tugtog Tugatog on December 17 at Melvin Jones grandstand; and Generous Santa (biggest city-wide exchange gift) on December 18 at Malcolm Square.
A countdown to New Year 2017 will be conducted on December 31 with a grand fireworks display at Melvin Jones football grounds starting 12 midnight.**gaby keith