March 29, 2024

The restrictions of being under community quarantine failed to dampen the spirits of the organizers of the 112th Charter Day anniversary of Baguio.
Instead of altogether cancelling events for Baguio Day, the team led by the City Tourism and Special Events Office has innovated by adding new events to make up for some of the institutional events that had to be cancelled in the meantime that the number of people permitted to attend public gatherings are still restricted.
Bannering the theme “Moving forward as one,” City Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Aloysius Mapalo announced in a press conference last Aug. 25 that this year’s events are a prelude to how events and tourism will be organized under the new normal.
The 112th Charter Day anniversary will kick off with a country and cowboy themed fair at Session Road, today, Aug. 29.
The event started in 2019 and was planned to be a regular activity for Baguio Day but was cancelled last year in view of the scaled down activities.
The event will be revived this year sans the line dancing and country song competitions.
Highlights of the Baguio Day celebration on Sept. 1 are the “State of the City Address” where Mayor Benjamin Magalong will report on his accomplishments for the past year.
President Rodrigo Duterte has been invited as guest of honor and speaker but the Presidential Management Staff has yet to confirm if the President could come or deliver virtually deliver his message. Tourism Sec. Bernadette Puyat is expected to be one of the Cabinet secretaries to attend for the unveiling of various activities for Baguio Day.
After the SOCA will be the awarding of 2021 Outstanding Citizens of Baguio by the Society of Outstanding Citizens of Baguio; launching of #breathe, which is the new tourism brand for Baguio; presentation of the Baguio heritage core development project; and unveiling of the photo exhibit “Hidden Figures, Hidden Hope,” an exhibition showing glimmers of hope in the midst of uncertainty because of the Covid-19 health crisis.
All these will be held in the morning at the Baguio Convention Center and will be livestreamed in the official social media page of the CTSEO and the Public Information Office.
After the program at the Baguio Convention Center, the small group at the venue will proceed to Session Road for the unveiling of the “green walk,” where there will be a simulation of the heritage core design for Session Road.
Mapalo said the green walk will help reinforce the campaign for people to walk or bike in the central business district.
The green walk is available for the whole month of September.
After the green walk, another program will be held at the Melvin Jones grandstand for a demonstration of an aircraft that is able to carry two people using drone technology.
On the morning of Sept. 2, the city government will begin operating the Smart City command center.
The city government also revived this year the search for Ms. Baguio with 12 contestants vying for the crown.
There will also be pocket activities such as Baguio Day fun facts quiz and painting of the heroes’ mural fronting the Baguio General Hospital.
The mural will be unveiled next month. – Rimaliza A. Opiña