Various activities are being prepared to commemorate important dates this month, vice mayor Daniel Fariñas revealed during last week’s regular “Ugnayan” at City Hall.

For July 4, earlier celebrated in the country as Filipino-American Friendship Day, simultaneous tree-planting activities shall be done in various areas of the city. A film with social relevance shall also be shown at the Baguio Convention Center, Fariñas said. The activities are being done for the historical friendship of the two countries, he said.

July 14 marks the second “Walk, Baguio, Walk,” this time with the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center as host.

On July 16, a recognition program for local heroes shall be done. “It will not be a grandiose affair,” the vice mayor said. It will not re-live the terror and sorrow felt then, but will honor and re-cognize emergency and communication groups that worked together in rescuing survivors.

He was referring to the July 16 temblor that shook the city and neighboring areas 18 years ago. The 7.7 quake on the Richter scale claimed lives and property around the city. “Those times tested our strength and unity as a people,” the vice mayor said.       

Non-government organizations and private entities who went out of their way to help shall be recognized, he added.

A photo exhibit is also being arranged for the affair.

July 17, unknown to many, Fariñas said, is the 30th year of the tournament between then world chess champions Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi. The games were then played at the Baguio Convention Center for weeks.         

On July 23, the birthday of recognized sublime paralytic Apolinario Mabini shall be commemorated. Mabini is known as the spokesperson, conscience, and mind of the Philippine revolution.

It would be fitting to look back at our heroes as models to the youth, Fariñas said. “We have to establish a connection between what transpired in the past to the freedom we are enjoying today,” he added.