WITH more activities for this year’s Christmas in Baguio celebration still in the pipeline, it’s all-systems go for most of its major events that promises to regale every member of the family.
On December 1, the city’s Christmas Tree will be unveiled at the Rose Garden, Burnham Park.
Designed by Archt. Aries Go in cooperation with the City Buildings and Architecture Office, this year’s centerpiece is made mostly of donated recycled steel and scrap metal with a traditional design.
Concerts will be conducted at Upper and Lower Session Road while Christmas carols will take place at the New Malcolm Square. The promised world-class venue will have its soft opening on November 30.
The city’s Christmas Village at Children’s Playground will be launched with the lighting of Burnham park including the orchidarium. Parts of the central business district will also be lighted with stellar multi-colored Christmas lights.
Saint Louis University will hold its annual fun run for hope including free medical and legal assistance with performances in between on November 26 and 27 at the Melvin Jones Grandstand.
Its world-famous lantern parade is set on December 1 starting 6:30 p.m. thru the city’s main thoroughfares with the theme, “Different Colors of Nations”.
The December 1 “Christmas in Baguio” kick-off will literally end with a bang thru the much-awaited fireworks display immediately after the lantern parade.
Also set to kick-off on December 1 are events under the “Silahis ng Pasko 2016” on its 43rd year that has been an integral part of the city’s Christmas celebration for many years.
The annual Yuletide offering is sponsored by the city government thru the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in coordination with the National Correspondents Club of Baguio (NCCB) headed by newsman and former councilor Nars Padilla.
A grand opening day is slated on December 1 with a children-parents Christmas mardigras at 8 a.m. followed by a grand opening program 9 a.m. at Melvin Jones grandstand, Burnham Park with Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Congressman Mark Go to deliver Christmas messages.
Little Miss and Mister Silahis ng Pasko sa Baguio talent show, children’s “kultora-o-rama” and dance fest with day care centers is at 2 p.m. at Malcolm Square.
On December 3 is Share A Joy, Baguio children’s Christmas fun alley and raffle joys with little helping hands, newspaper boys, shoeshine boys, baggage boys and bag sellers. A palaro and raffle for gift items is set at 9 a.m. at the Camp John Hay bell amphitheater hosted by the John Hay Management Corporation.
A PMA Cadet’s Day at the Park is set on December 4 with a silent drill exhibition slated 10 a.m. at Burnham Park followed by a PMA band concert at 2:30 p.m. at the Malcolm Square.
On December 3 and 4 is the Quest for the Baguio Lucky Christmas Family 2016 who will be given a red carpet reception, accommodations, sightseeing tours including courtesy calls to ranking government officials.
Immaculate Conception Day festivities is on December 8 starting 9 a.m. with a Thanksgiving Holy Mass for Peace, Solidarity and Progress at the NCCB Shrine of the Brown Madonna, Km. 7, Asin Road, Tuba, Benguet.
On December 11 is the Baguio City High School dancing and singing Christmas Tree starting 2 a.m. at Malcolm Square hosted by the Baguio-Benguet Market Plaza Multi-Purpose Cooperative and the SLU-SVP Housing Cooperative.
A Special Day for Special People program is set on December 17 at 6:30 a.m. with a wheelathon for the orthopedically impaired and walkathon for the visually impaired at South Drive and chess tournament for the blind at Malcolm Square.
At 8:30 a.m. is the Children’s palaro participated by handicapped youngsters at Malcolm Square.
The Quest for the Baguio Lucky Foreign Visitors will be conducted from December 9 to 12 in partnership with the Department of Tourism-CAR and offices of the La Trinidad Mayor and Benguet Governor.
On December 25 is the Quest for the Baguio Lucky Christmas Baby hosted by the CSWDO, the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and Baguio balikbayans.
Padilla, in a Santa Claus costume, will also walk the city’s roads on this day.
The Baguio Lucky Balikbayan and CAR Sportsmen Day is on December 30 starting 9 am with a welcome reception, presentation of tokens and conduct of a pinikpikan food festival at Sunshine Park.
On January 1, 2017 is the Quest for the Lucky New Year Baby hosted by the CSWDO, OSCA and Baguio Elderly Assembly.
The Silahis ng Pasko 2016 ends with the 29th Annual Kafagway Sports Award Program starting 9 a.m. at Malcolm Square with the presentation of Achievement and Proficiency Awards to the year’s outstanding athletes, sportsmen and supporters of sports development in Baguio and Cordillera. (Gaby Keith/PIO)