Chilly Baguio folks welcome Ms U bets with culture, warmth

By Freddie G. Lazaro

BAGUIO CITY – Temperature dropped here Wednesday but excitement over the 65th Miss Universe pageant heated up with the arrival of 29 candidates who toured this city and received generous servings of local hospitality and culture ahead of coronation night on Jan. 30 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Metro Manila.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Baguio chilled Wednesday at 12.6 degrees Celsius.

Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan, who declared holiday for the city Wednesday with no classes said a big crowd of locals and tourists estimated at 30,000 welcomed Miss Universe candidates joined a Panagbenga – themed parade along Session Road.

Miss Universe titlist Pia Wurtzbach arrived here shortly after 8 a.m., amidst tight security implemented by local and international organizers.

The candidates, along with Wurtzbach joined the parade and later visited Baguio Country Club.

The candidates arrived earlier at Loakan Airport and were welcomed by cadets from the Philippine Military Academy.

All floats had different designs where the Miss Universe bet rode were made of fresh locally-produced flowers.

It was an early Panagbenga treat for the beauties as there were street dancers which added to the festivity,” Shauna Curran, event organizer at the Baguio Country Club said.

It was a holiday in the city and a parade with street dancers and floats prepared for the occasion.

Domogan issued Administrative Order No. 03 Series of 2017 suspending classes in all levels on Jan. 18 to give everybody opportunity to personally see the beautiful ladies who paraded at the city’s main thoroughfare.

The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio that handled the Miss Universe candidates’ visit said it would boost tourism in Baguio.

Over 1,000 policemen, civilian operatives and additional civilian volunteers were deployed at the route of the parade, including outskirts to ensure no untoward incident would happen that day.