Happy Birthday Baguio on your glorious 103rd Natal Day

HISTORY tells us that the City of Baguio was an American Dream. Today, as the “ber” months take the centerstage, let us pause for a moment and give praise and thanks to the Almighty Father for the dedication, sacrifices and hardwork of the American pioneers who blazed the trail to make the dream a reality. Today, September 1, we celebrate the 103rd Birthday Anniversary of magandang Baguio, proudly your city, my, our City of the Pines. Special pasasalamat of Justice George Malcolm who authored the bill which created September 1, 1909 the City of Baguio as a Charted City, the second in the Philippines after the City of Manila. Of course, we must also pay tribute to all the past American as well as Filipino local government officials who in one way or another contributed growth and development of our fair city. Kudos also goes to the multi-racial residents from the cross section of our community whose efforts and sacrifices to make Baguio a better place to live in, is deeply appreciated. We must all cost protect and conserve our gains with sustained moral, spiritual and physical vigor. We must continue individually and collectively as Baguioites to join hands, hearts and minds to meet squarely the stream of challenges and the task before us to make our city the Baguio we want!

In unison, let us greet and wish Baguio a joyous birthday celebration! Let us commit to her that throughout the day and through the years we will make Baguio clean, green, peaceful and beautiful! I believe this is the best gift that we can give the Summer Capital of the Philippines! The gift to say the least is full of essence and substance. Over and above, it is doable every minute of the day, every day of the week, every week of the month and every month of the year.

At this point in time, may I share with you a simple poem in acrostic form which I penned. Hopefully, you will like it as a reminder of the beauty and grandeur of out mountain resort city atop the Cordilleras.

B – Baguio City my love and my life,

A – Abloom with motherly care and sharing spirit,

G – Gifted with peace and unity in diversity,

U – Unique and universal and all awhile moving forward with

I – Its natural beauty and splendor across and

O – Over its pine-clad mountain and hills, crowned with gems of flowers of every shape and hue.

C – Come dear friends and enjoy the God-given endowments of this cloud-kissed wonderland,

I – Inamorata for everyone from far and near seeking to be part of

T – The Summer Capital of the Philippines,

Y – Year-round paradise of joy and pride for all season, intricately woven in the colorful fabric of people, places and events.

The series of commemorative activities of this year’s Baguio Charter Day celebration started at 12:00 o’clock last night with the “Search of the Lucky Baguio Charter Day Babies” at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC). The baby boy and baby girl born closest to the designated time will be declared as the lucky ones. In keeping with tradition the special humanitarian event is jointly hosted and coordinated by the Baguio Elderly Assembly (BEA), City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in cooperation with the Baguio Charter Day Committee co-chaired by City Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Congressman Bernardo Vergara.

At 7:30 a.m. today, simultaneous mass wreathlaying ceremonies will be held at the Justice Malcolm Monument at the Peoples Park, Architect Daniel H. Burnham Monument at Burnham Park and at the Col. Lyaman W. Kennon Marker along Kennon Road. A short and simple memorial program honoring the American pioneer Baguio builders will take place at Malcolm Square immediately after the prayer, candlelight and flower rites with BEA, BARP Foundation, PGRA Baguio Chapter, FBASECA, USAFIP NL, WW II Veterans and PRA NL Officers at the helm. At 8:00 a.m. the 103rd Baguio Chapter Day program will be under klieglights at the Baguio Convetion Center with Rev. Fr. Jessie Hechanova, President of the Saint Louis University as the guest of honor and speaker. The highlights of the program will be the presentation of awards to the 10 Most Outstanding Citizens of Baguio. A grand parade will follow immediately after the program.

Salamat po at all the BARPers who supported and voted for me as one of the Board of Trustees of the BARP Foundation in last Saturday’s elections. As expected BARP’s President-CEO Prof. Federico Balanag topped the leadership exercise. The other elected trustees were former City Mayor Jaime Bugnosen, Menchi Damoslog and Juliet Palasi.