BAGUIO City is set to mark on Tuesday, July 4, the 71st Filipino-American (Fil-Am) Friendship Day with two-part program.
The first part will be the simultaneous wreath-laying rites at the various memorial sites for Americans who were instrumental in the founding and development of the city at 8:30 a.m.
These sites include the Maj. Lyman Kennon Bust along Kennon Road to be conducted by the Army Retirees Association of Cordillera Administrative Region, the Veterans Federation of the Philippines and the United States Army Forces in the Philippines Northern Luzon; Archbishop Daniel Burnham Bust at Rose Garden with city social welfare and development office and Office for Senior Citizens Affairs, the Baguio Elderly Assembly (BEA), National Correspondents Club of Baguio and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines; and site of the First Philippine Commission at Governor Pack Road by the Veterans of Foreign War, Fleet Reserve Association and the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.
At 9 a.m., the participants will converge at Justice George A. Malcolm Square for the program proper with Mayor Mauricio Domogan delivering a special message followed by the celebration at the Baguio Convention Center with the cultural offering dubbed “Kultura O-Rama” featuring activities in honor of the Fil-Am community members, war veterans and the senior citizens.
The program will open with the march of the Lakan and Lakambini of Fil-Am 2017 with City Social Welfare and Development Officer Betty Fangasan welcoming the participants.
Highlight of the program will be the presentation and coronation of the Lakan and Lakambini couple, an American and his Filipina wife, who according to former councilor Narciso Padilla of the Baguio Elderly Assembly and the NCCB were chosen to highlight the enduring Fil-Am partnership and the historical fact that Baguio was a city developed by the Americans.
The coronation of Ginang Lakambini will be presided by Rebecca Domogan, Soledad Go and Councilor Lilia Farinas, while Ginoong Lakan will be awarded by Social Security System Northern Luzon Acting Assistant President Ceasar Saludo and the officers of the BEA.
A harana, honoring the royal court will follow featuring folk dances and presentations by the Pines City national High School, the Blessed Association of Retired Persons Foundation, the Federation of Baguio Senior Citizen Associations and the Philippine Government Retired Employees Association.
Parlor games and a raffle will cap the activities of the celebration. (PR)