Picturesque parade set for Baguio charter day

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – A hundred and three years of the city’s historical transformation shall be highlighted through participants’ elaborate costumes and accessories during the Charter Day celebration parade, as it weaves its way in main thoroughfares and up to the Baguio Convention Center for the program.

Each division in the parade shall portray the manner of dressing, and some cultural influence of the Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Americans and other cultures. 

If rains persist, a shorter version of said parade shall be performed by the Baguio City National High Special School for Performing Arts at the Baguio Convention Center.

This was confirmed by committee chair for tourism and special events, and co-chair for the Baguio Day executive committee Councilor Elmer Datuin.   

Participants: academe, business, barangays, NGOs, government agencies and socio-civic groups are busy with preparations as tasks were distributed during the meetings of the executive committee headed by Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

The main focus though, shall be the awarding of the city’s outstanding citizens, chosen by search by the Society of Outstanding Citizens of Baguio (SOCOB). A unity ball follows in the evening at the same venue.

All activities are anchored on the theme, “Sustaining a Sense of History, Community and Continuity.”       

For openers, a cultural show is slated at SM on Aug. 31.

For sports enthusiasts, there shall bowling on August 26 at the Olympian lanes. A bike fest shall be done on Sept. 1 and 2 at the John Hay Trails while the Bahag Tennis Ethnic Tournament shall be conducted at the Athletic Bowl, Burnham Park on Sept. 1. The Bahag airsoft-speedball tournament shall also be done on Sept 8 at the same venue.   

On August 30 to September 1, the international culinary and food fest goes on at the Baguio Convention Center, sponsored by the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB). The Baguio Arts Guild conducts a “Silver” Fashion show and exhibit at the Baguio Country Club on September 2.

 On Sept 3, the Philippine Civil Service celebrates its 112th anniversary at city hall. On Sept. 5 to 7, the Baguio Day sister cities exhibit goes on at Malcolm Square.

The HRAB opening, a mass wedding and unveiling of the largest wedding cake shall also be done at SM City, on Sept 6, which is expected to bring in a large number of participants and spectators.

On Sept. 8, a socio-civic-city-NGO sponsored medical and dental mission shall be done at the Baguio Convention Center. 

On Sept. 16, prayers in various churches shall be offered, with intentions “for a better Baguio.”

 On Sept. 26-27, a local and foreign jobs fair shall be conducted by the City Mayor’s Office in coordination with the Public Employment Services Office, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment and other offices. The venue shall be confirmed in later media releases.        

A mass wedding sponsored by the City Social Welfare and Development Office goes on at the Baguio Convention Center, 8 AM on Sept. 28.

Other activities are expected this month and the next, as part of the celebrations.