Products seen mostly during events of the Filipino Chinese community or can only be bought at specialty stores or in Binondo, Manila can now be purchased at the heart of Baguio on Jan. 22 and on Jan. 29 during the weekly Session Road showcase.
In coordination with the city government, the Filipino Chinese community of Baguio will transform Session Road into a little “China town” as part of the line-up of events celebrating the Spring Festival Chinese Lunar New Year or the Year of the Rabbit based on the Chinese calendar.
While Session Road was named after members of the Philippine Commission who conducted their assembly at Baden Powell building where they declared Baguio as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, the road, which forms part of the National Route 231 of the Philippine Road Network was informally called “China town” in the past because most businesses at the city’s main road then were mostly operated by Chinese immigrants.
Albeit the landscape of Session Road has changed through the years, the Filipino Chinese community included the new event in the line-up of activities it has been holding to celebrate the Spring Festival through the years.
The traditional activities of the Spring Festival are the launching program held last Jan. 16; media fellowship on Jan. 18; barangay gift sharing last Jan. 20; Chinese lunar new year evening mass at the Bell Church last Jan. 21; grand parade and Chinese lunar new year grand reception on Jan. 27.
In preparation for crowd-drawing events which include the Spring Festival parade, Mayor Benjamin Magalong spearheaded a multi-agency coordination meeting-cum-pre-disaster risk assessment.
Traffic and security plans were laid down and reviewed for improvement and finalization during the meeting attended by the Panagbenga executive committee and the various city government and line agencies.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong emphasized the need for effective traffic and security management through well-researched and executed strategies and maximized deployment of all available personnel and resources to ensure peace and order for the whole duration of the activities.
Security measures addressing crowd control, crime prevention and elimination of security threats will be put in place to ensure the convenience and safety of all those who will take part in the events.
The Baguio City Police Office Traffic Enforcement Unit and the Traffic and Transportation Management Division will come up with traffic plans for timely dissemination to the public to minimize traffic congestions, motorist discomfort and irritability among residents and tourists alike. – Rimaliza A. Opiña with reports from Aileen P. Refuerzo
