BAGUIO CENTENNIAL FEATURES

 Six outstanding citizens to be honored in Baguio Day rites

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Six women who rendered exemplary service in their fields were chosen as this year’s outstanding citizens of Baguio.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan on Wednesday announced the selection of the following to the 106th Baguio Day honor roll: Basilisa Cachero-Pimentel for arts and culture; Dona Digna Salvador Rosario, professional/community service; Lilia Ronquillo Bautista, business; Dr. Leonarda Romasanta-Aguinalde, community service; Epifania Cabanban-Dao-ey, community service; and Maria Nela Bascos-Florendo, professional/arts and culture.

They will be awarded during the Baguio Day program on Sept. 1 8:30 a.m. at the Baguio Convention Center by the Society of Outstanding Citizens of Baguio (SOCOB) headed by Dr. Priscilla Macansantos.

Pimentel was selected for her contributions in field of music having served as supervisor in the said field of study for many years.  She encouraged schools to form choral groups and to join competitions resulting to numerous awards and honors.  Pimentel composed the official Baguio March entitled “Beautiful Baguio” and other hymns being used by several institutions.

Rosario, directress of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Montessori and NLAB School for the Blind, was extolled for her accomplishments in the field of education and community service. She initiated various social projects that benefited the poor and the visually impaired.  She remained active in educational, religious and civic organizations.

Businesswoman Bautista was selected for her entrepreneurial achievements which she shared through academic scholarships, livelihood programs and assistance for the needy.

Aguinalde was cited for her public service initiatives which she pursued side by side with her profession as an educator.  She is currently the vice president for administration of the University of the Cordilleras and head of the UC’s community arm known as the UC-Project H.E.L.E.N.

Dao-ey’s pioneering work to uplift the condition of women and her engagement in various community works earned her a spot in the roll of honorees.  Even while managing the Easter Weaving, she was able to allot time and resources for her other civic affiliations. 

Florendo, a history professor at the University of the Philippines Baguio, was lauded for her dedication to her craft honing of future historians. 

She was credited for her contributions in the writing of the history of Baguio City and the Cordilleras as well as the history of the city’s barangays.  

The outstanding citizens will be joined by two special honorees Vallejo, California expatriate Dinah Villanueva and multi-awarded ultramarathon runner Marcelo Bautista. 

Villanueva was instrumental in the establishment of the sisterhood relationship between Baguio and Vallejo while Bautista’s string of victories in his sport earned him the special plaudit.

The judging committee is headed by the mayor with Dr. Julie Cabato, Lenora Fe Brawner, Helen Tibaldo, Judge Clarita Tabin, Engr. FelinoLagman and Bishop Oscar Magallanes.

The screening committee is composed of former Baguio Day awardees namely Mercedes Carino, Dr. MarcelinoDizon Jr., Arch. Rafael Chan, Marlene De Castro, Gloria Leal and Ellen Badival. – A Refuerzo

Baguio cops national Kabalikat, unity award

BAGUIO CITY – For its efforts in advancing technical-vocational education, Baguio City copped this year’s National Kabalikat Award in the Local Government Unity City Level category given by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The city received the award during the 21^stTESDA anniversary last Aug. 25 at the TESDA central office in Taguig City.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said the award is timely as the city is celebrating the 106^th charter day anniversary on Sept. 1 with the theme, ““Nurturing the Culture of Caring and Sharing towards Competitiveness” to stress on the need for sustained teamwork among the various sectors of the society to propel Baguio’s growth as a viable and competent city.

He said the award is a testimony of the teamwork between the city departments, TESDA and other sectors in strengthening tech-voc education to benefit more people.

The city was earlier adjudged as winner in the regional level of the awards program.

In bringing home the national award, the city bested other finalists including Santiago City of Region II, Iloilo City of Region VI, Dipolog of Region IX, Ozamis of Region X, Pasig of National Capital Region, Surigao of CARAGA and Masbate of Region V.

The city was nominated to the awards program by the TESDA Baguio-Benguet under director Angela Gabriel based on the data provided by the official of the city planning and development under officer Evelyn Cayat.

The city’s feat was based on its accomplishment of providing employment facilitation services to a total of 216,125 beneficiaries that led to the employment of 134,408 beneficiaries from 2012 to 2014.

It also conducted training and assessment to 5,665 beneficiaries through TESDA and 220,788 beneficiaries through the city social welfare and development office, Alternative Learning System Dept. of Education, Baguio City Police Office and Bureau of Jail Management and the Gender and Development Council.

The city allocated a total of P49,716,985 to the different departments to implement these programs.

The Kabalikat award is one of TESDA’s reward mechanisms to recognize its partners in the promotion of TVET.

The nominees were judged according to the following criteria: number of persons benefited in terms of training and assessment, investment to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), number of TVET graduates provided employment facilitation services, continuous support to TVET, provision of employment opportunities in the locality, compliance with TESDA requirements and scope of funding support. – Aileen P.Refuerzo

Temporary closure of Session Road set    

BAGUIO CITY  -  In celebration of the 106th Baguio Charter Day anniversary,  half of Session Road will be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic on Sept. 1 from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight through administrative order no. 089 of Baguio mayor Mauricio Domogan.

There is a need to close half of Session Road in order to allow performers and the viewing public to comfortably maneuver within the area considering the lined up activities for the month long celebration such as the conduct of a concert to take venue at the top of Session Road on the said date.
The programs that will exhibit the various talents of the city on Sept. 1 include the Baguio zumba group, local bands, Baguio city’s best dance groups, pocket events in exhibition of visual arts by the artists groups of Baguio, chalk art painting activity and the setting up of sidewalk cafes for the different session road business establishments and fireworks display.

In the order, “the part of Session Road (going down) will be closed to vehicular traffic up to intersection of Mabini Street from 12 midnight of Aug. 31 until 12 midnight of Sept. 1.  The part of Session road (going up) will be closed to vehicular traffic at 12 midnight of Aug. 31 up to 12 midnight of Sept. 1, except its with intersections with lower Mabini Street, Calderon Street and Governor Pack Road.

“The city government wants to give utmost importance and impact in commemorating the 106th Baguio Charter Day Celebration, this Sept. 1 with the theme: Nurturing the culture of sharing and caring towards competitiveness,” said the mayor. -- JhoArranz

Fun run for dialysis patients set Sept. 26

By Ramon Dacawi

The second edition of “:Straight into Baguio’s Heart”,  a fun run to draw community support to the city’s growing number of hemodialysis patients, will fire off on September 26, city sports officer Gaudencion Gonzales  announced this week.

The run, bracketed into the 3K, 5K and 10K events, keeps alive the city’s centennial theme “Fostering A Culture of Caring” and keeps alive the spirit of sharing that city mayor Mauricio Domogan  introduced a year ago to spice up the city’s founding anniversary celebration.

As in last year’s run, proceeds from the three-bracket footrace will go to a fund from which the growing number of kidney patients here who are undergoing expensive twice or thrice a week dialysis  can draw support   for their lifetime treatment.

The city has teamed up anew with the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center Dialysis Patients and Partners Association headed by social worker Nora Mangusan for the run-for-a-cause that mayor Domogan hoped would again be supported by businessmen and the public as a public-private partnership effort.

“The number of patients  undergoing hemodialysis is growing at an alarming rate, reason enough for the city to include this humanitarian thrust in its founding anniversary observance,” the mayor said.

Last year’s initial run netted P312,935.63 out of registration fees and donations that went to partially payment of the change of fistula at P6,000 each for 27 patients, confinement fund support of P3,000 each to 45 patients, and another fund support of P2,000 each to five severe cases, with a balance of P1,129.29 from bank interest remaining.

Those covered by support to their fistula change were Ferdinand Tuzon of Baguio, Angelo Natividad of Asingan, Pangasinan; JonathenBulwayan of Baguio City, Harry Pagnas of La Union, Gregoriao Capones of La Trinidad, David Apil (Tuba, Benguet), Emilda Bustarde (Pacdal, Baguio), Liezel Kinakin (Baguio), Juliet Pascual (Burgos, La Union FelyGalon (Baguio), Nancy Bugnay (La Trinidad, Benguet), Armando Siano (La Trinidad, Benguet), Teresa Rullan  (Baguio), MarclonTercero )Itogon), Joseph Lansuyan (Bakun, Benguet), Fe Domingo (Baguio), Vicente  Ekwey (Camp 3 Kennon Rd.), Fryla de la Pena (Kapangan, Benguet), Amor Orpilla (Baguio), Leonard Nalos (Baguio), Sharon Dalida (La Trinidad), Cristina Saingan (Tuba), Ramon Dacawi (baguio) EuddnciaCanlas (Baguio City), Virgiilio Clementa (Baguio), David Puguon (Baguio ), Lucio Briones (Natividad, Pangasinan).