The city council did not meet last Monday for lack of quorum as most of the members were out of the country on official business.
During its last session, the body through Resolution 382, s. 2019 has approved the activities, programs, venues, and schedule of activities for the Christmas in Baguio 2019 dubbed as “An Enchanting Baguio Christmas”in support to Executive Order 131, s. 2019 of City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
The Baguio Tourism Council was tasked under the executive order to partner with the city government in organizing, planning, coordinating, and executing events, programs, and activities for the celebration of Christmas in the city.
The BTC, headed by Gladys Vergara, committed that this year’s Christmas in Baguio will be like no other because they made sure that it will indeed be enchanting.
On Nov. 24, community activities will be launched at Burnham Park. Foremost is the “Opening of Baguio Christmas Fair” with live performance of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra at the Rose Garden to start at 5:30 p.m.
Other activities to start on the same evening are the “Enchanting Christmas Swan Lake” and the “Enchanting Baguio Christmas Lights and Decors.”All the three major activities will run until Jan. 5.
For the whole month of December, the long string of Christmas activities will begin with the annual “Children’s Mardi Gras Parade” down Session Road to Melvin Jones at 8a.m. In the evening of the same day are the “Saint Louis University Christmas lantern parade” at 6 p.m. to be followed by the “synchronized lighting of the city Christmas decors” at 7 p.m. and fireworks display at 8 p.m.
Weekly “Christmas lights shows and concerts at Malcolm Square” and the “Christmas stories at Rose Garden” will also start on Dec. 1 and to continuously run, respectively, every Saturday evening on Dec. 7, 14, 21, and 28, and Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29.
On Dec. 6, the “University of Baguio Christmas Cantata” will take place at the Rose Garden at 7p.m. The selection of the “Lucky Christmas Family” is on Dec. 7 to 8.
The “anticipated simbang Gabi” at 6 p.m. followed by the “Christmas soup kitchen” at 7p.m. will be held at the Rose Garden from Dec. 16 to 24.
On Dec. 22, the Philippine Military Academy and the Ballet Baguio Nutcracker Suite will perform at Session Road and Malcolm Square at 6 p.m.
There is going to be an exciting search for “Lucky Christmas Baby” on Dec. 25 and the presentation of winners on Dec. 30 for the Tala and Kislap Awards.
On the evening of Dec. 31, a New Year countdown concert and fireworks will be held at the Melvin Jones grandstand from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., and the search for “Lucky New Year Baby” will be held on Jan. 1.
With schedule of activities in place, along with the ample preparation and well-coordinated efforts of the organizers, the body is confident that the 2019 Christmas celebration in the city will be fun, entertaining, one of a kind, and will definitely attract thousands upon thousands of tourists from all over the country, including visitors from different countries.
The BTC ensured that cleanliness and peace and order will be maintained during the entire duration of the Christmas activities in coordination with the different government agencies concerned, such as the General Services Office, the City Environment and Parks Management Office, and the Baguio City Police Office.
The Rehabiltation Action Baguio, which was organized for the purpose, will take charge and immediately start repair and restoration works of the Rose Garden after the events.
May 9, 2024
