Baguio City’s missed calendar of summer vacation activities is back via the “#Baguio Summerfeels Sumvac 2022.”
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said this is to sustain the city’s momentum in transitioning to the new normal after more than two years of hiatus due to the pandemic.
The city had good gains when it resumed public staging of the Baguio Flower Festival last March after earning an eased off quarantine status.
City Tourism Officer Aloysius Mapalo said the Sumvac calendar is a mishmash of civic, spiritual, cultural, environmental, tourism and sports activities that will run from April to May.
Activities are as follows: Mirador Eco-Spirituality Park’s Mirar vista and prayer stops – Experience Mirador not just as a sight and view to behold, but as a place of prayer and meditation for the whole summer (Entire April and May); Holy Week Catholic Eucharistic celebrations; Palm Sunday eucharistic celebration (April 10, 9 a.m., Lourdes Grotto; April 10, 11 a.m., Baguio Cathedral); Holy Thursday mass of the Lord’s supper (April 14, 5p.m., Baguio Cathedral); Good Friday celebration of the Lord’s passion, procession and veneration of Santo Entierro (April 15, starts at 3:30 p.m., Baguio Cathedral to Session Road, Harrison Road and back to Cathedral); Easter Sunday mass (April 17, 9 a.m., Lourdes Grotto); Easter Sunday salubong (April 17, 4:30 a.m., Baguio Cathedral square);
Death of the forest – A 45-minute meditative walk-through different stations of Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary (April 14, at 8:30 am., Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary); Baguio Easter ecumenical morning service (April 17, 5 a.m., Malcolm Square); Baguio Liberation Day – Commemoration of the 77th liberation of Baguio by the U.S. Army and the 66th Infantry from the Japanese forces (April 27, 8 a.m., Veteran’s Park Harrison Road);
Baguio Labor Day Job Fair – Employment facilitation for job seekers on a face to face application and interaction with employers and recruitment agencies (May 1, 8 a.m., Baguio Convention Center);
National Flag Day – Commemoration of the day the national emblem was first unfurled after the Philippine Revolutionary Army defeated the Spanish forces in Cavite; and May 28 – 8 a.m., Aguinaldo Park and Museum
Activities on nature, culture and heritage are: Onjon ni Ivadoy One Town, One Product – Get a taste of Ibaloi local crafts, arts and farm and food products from the communities themselves in celebration of National Filipino Food Month (April 2 to May 7, Burnham Park, Ibaloy Heritage Garden);
#BreatheNature #PreserveNature Horseback-Riding – Experience horseback riding at its best, immersed in the pine forests, enjoying the mountain views and contributing to the preservation of nature at Busol Watershed and Atok Trail (April and May, Wright Park and Atok Trail);
BenCab@80 and London punk drawings – National Artist Benedicto Cabrera celebrates his 80th birthday with an exhibition of paintings and metal sculpture, with a special showcase of London’s punk culture of the 80’s through his own sketches and drawings (April 9 to June 5, BenCab Museum, Gallery Indigo and Sepia Gallery);
Mangan Taku (Let’s Eat) 2022 – Cordilleran culinary celebration and showcase with the Department of Tourism-CAR in celebration of National Filipino Food Month (April 21 to 24, Wright Park);
Transcendance: International Dance Day 2022 – The Ballet Baguio and Ballet La Trinidad, with special guests from Ballet Manila and Home: A Company of Creatives, celebrates International Dance Day with special dance performances (May 1, 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., SM City Baguio Sky Terrace);
Session Road Heritage Festival – A new city festival celebrating the iconic Session Road as a heritage site of colonial America mixed with Ibaloi culture (May 1, Gov. Pack Road to Session Road (Session Road pedestrianization every Sunday of April and May);
Sabsabong ti Mayo – The annual floral sculpture showdown now made bigger highlighting the city’s distinction as a city of flowers (May 12 to 22, Rose Garden Burnham Park);
University of the Cordilleras “Cor de Mayo” – UC hosts a special commemoration of the National Heritage Month of May with a Cordilleran cultural festival, featuring exhibits, talks and shows (May 12 to 22, Rose Garden Burnham Park);
Huminga Baguio TikTok challenge – Show your best moves with “Huminga Baguio” theme song showing Baguio summer scenes and win prizes. (April 13 to May 15);
Sumvac motorist and tourist assistance – The annual Holy Week civic and community service by the different communications and volunteer groups in coordination with the Baguio City Police Office and City Administrator’s Office (April 13 to 17).
HOHO tourist bus soft launching – Leave your cars and go around the city’s premier tourist attractions with a free ride. Just show your QTP. (April 13 to 17);
World Food Expo – The region’s biggest food show is back (April 19 to 24, Baguio Convention Center); Easter egg hunt and online costume wars (April 17, 10 a.m., Abanao Square event area);
Summer Easter costume contest (April 17, SM City Baguio); Eggciting Easter party (April 17, 3 p.m., Grand Sierra Pines Hotel Garden); Sumvac volleyball men and women open invitational league (May 3 to 5, Engineers’ Hill covered court, FVR gym and Baguio City National High School gym); Baguio Taekwondo open championship (May 7, Baguio Convention Center); and Wushu-Taolu Baguio Sumvac meet (May 28 to 29, Baguio Athletic Bowl, swimming pool area). – Aileen P. Refuerzo
