Seven first-time visitors to Baguio and Benguet were treated to a four-day red carpet that was afforded them by the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) and its partners from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday.
The seven visitors from Bacoor City, Cavite and Mariveles, Bataan were this year’s beneficiaries of the annual Search for the Baguio-Benguet Lucky Visitor after the search resumed following a three-year lull due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ciara Balmaceda, 26, and a resident of Bacoor City, Cavite, expressed her gratitude to the BCBC and its partners for the wonderful treatment that was afforded them after she and her partner Ivan Magahis, 26, also of Bacoor City, were chosen from a Victory Liner bus to be the initial recipients of a four-day red carpet treatment from the media organization.
She said they will treasure the experience for a lifetime.
Magahis said words are not enough to express their gratitude to the BCBC and its partners for the special treatment that they got after being chosen as this year’s lucky visitors.
He said they will forever remember the one-of-a kind experience when they were allowed to visit key tourist destinations for free.
Joan Veles, 38, a sari-sari store owner from Mariveles, Bataan, said that they will have a lot to share to their province mates on the various tourist destinations in the city and nearby Benguet, which they were able to visit for free.
She was in the company of Ivy Cayabyab, 30; Lea Cayabyab, 26; Rechelle Ramos, 36; and Ginalyn Billones, 37 when they were chosen by the members of the BCBC selection committee from the Genesis bus that was also flagged down in Pugo, La Union.
The five lucky visitors from Mariveles, Bataan were supposed to spend the night at Burnham Park and brought with them limited clothes.
Under the search, first-time visitors to the city will be chosen by the members of the BCBC selection committee from the passengers of Baguio-bound buses.
Pugo Mayor Kurt Walter M. Martin welcomed the lucky visitors while they were disembarking from their respective buses and during the mini-press conference.
Martin expressed his gratitude to the BCBC and its partners for including Pugo in the itinerary of the lucky summer visitors as the same will help in promoting the municipality as a worthy destination while visitors are en route to their desired destinations in Baguio, Benguet, and La Union.
The lucky visitors paid a courtesy call to Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan at the municipal hall grounds where a simple program was held that was attended by councilors William Abanse, Eugene Gabino, and Oliver Paus and officials and employees of the municipal government and other national agencies in the locality.
The lucky visitors also paid courtesy calls to Baguio and Benguet officials.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong welcomed the lucky summer visitors at the city hall, Benguet provincial tourism officer Eliazar Carias welcomed them at the Benguet Provincial Capitol while Councilors Belmer Elis, Bartolome Baldas and municipal tourism officer Valred Olsim welcomed the visitors at the Strawberry Valley Hotel in La Trinidad.
The annual search was spearheaded by the BCBC in partnership with the Baguio city Government, Benguet Provincial Government, Pugo Municipal Government, La Trinidad Municipal government, Police Regional Office-Cordillera, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, Philippine Veterans Bank, Philex Mining corporation, Smart Communications, Department of Tourism-Cordillera, Department of Transportation-Cordillera, Land Transportation Office-Cordillera, Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera, Liga ng mga Barangay-Baguio chapter, PLDT, Benguet Electric Cooperative, Baguio Water District, Baguio Country Club, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio, Panagbenga Secretariat, Polig’s Berry Farm, Beacon Hill and Eco Park, The Ridge, Tam-awan Village, Igorot Stone Kingdom, League of Associations at the Vegetable Trading Post, National Grid Corporation, SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet, Camp John Hay Manor, Hotel Supreme, Benguet Provincial Police Office, Baguio City Police Office, Tublay Municipal Police Station, La Trinidad Municipal Police Station, Tuba Municipal Police Station, Pugo Municipal Police Station, Pugo Municipal Police Station, Abanao Square, SM City Baguio, R&R Management, SkyRanch Baguio, Mark AMedia Solutions, Flying V gas station and restaurant, Rep. Mark Go, Councilor Michael L. Lawana, Councilor Maximo Edwin, Jr., Engr. Rocky Aliping, City Environment and Parks Management Office, City Tourism Office, and former mayor Mauricio G. Domogan. – PIO release
