MEN and women of the Baguio media once again played host to one of the longest running activities in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
The Search for the Baguio-Benguet Lucky Summer Visitor (LSV) is an annual event spearheaded by the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC). It treated a group of first-time visitors to a four-day red carpet tour of Baguio and Benguet.
Jeremy Lozada, 22, a branch manager, with his five-year-old son Justine Gabriel; Iran Mae Santiago, 22, an account associate; Cecil Piquete, 32, marketing assistant; and Joan Mae Toca, 25, account associate, all from Antipolo, Rizal, were chosen by the BCBC on April 18. They were aboard a Victory Liner bus in Pugo, La Union.
The BCBC is the oldest media club in north Luzon. It partnered with the Baguio City Government and the Department of Tourism-Cordillera for the search.
The activity was crafted decades ago and aims to help promote Baguio City as a prime tourist destination especially during the summer season. The activity allows a lucky group to experience the city and the nearby Benguet towns.
The LSVs were toured in Baguio and Benguet, with welcome ceremonies from Pugo Mayor Pricilla Martin, Tuba Mayor Ignacio Rivera, Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan, La Trinidad, Benguet Mayor Romeo Salda, and Tublay Mayor Armando Lauro.
The official residence of the LSV is Hotel Supreme.
Among the highlights of the tour were a visit to the Philippine Military Academy and with a special boodle lunch with cadets; breakfast with La Trinidad, Benguet officials and strawberry picking; an exclusive tour at the Winnaca Eco park in Tublay; a Tam Awan Village tour and sketching session with village artists; as well as a tree planting event to underscore the love for the environment in the highlands.
During the week, the BCBC opened the “media camp” called Camp Peppot, named after media mentor, Peppot Ilagan.
The annual activity was made possible through efforts of Domogan, Anthony De Leon of the Baguio Country Club and president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio, NLEX, SM City Baguio, Beneco general manager Gerardo Versoza, Oni Aguinalde of the University of the Cordilleras, PMA Superintendent Lieutenant General Ronnie Evengelista, Salvador Royeca of the Baguio Water District, Peter and Jeff Ng of Hotel Supreme, Jonathan and Bernie Vergara, the Department of Tourism, La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda, Jordan Mang-osan of Chanum Foundation and Tam Awan Village, Hedcor, Rocky and Nicasio Aliping, Philex Mines, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, the MVP group of companies, the Benguet Farmers Marketing Cooperative, Luisas Café, Veterans Bank, Bamarva president Zosimo Abratique, Benguet Provincial Police Office Director Lyndon Mencio, the Baguio City Police Office, Helen Tibaldo of the Philippine Information Agency Cordillera, Paeng Valencia of 911 On Call, Kabalikat Civic Communications, PNP PRO-Cordillera, Baguio Tourism Office, Philippine Cable Corporation, PLDT Baguio, Franklin Cocoy of Onjon ni Ivadoy, Robert Allan Santiago of the DOTR, Angelita Gayados of the NFA Market Section, AerithCream Ice Cream, Ruperto Alvar of the R&R Sanitary Services, Jojo Marrero of Interlink Security Management, Jose “JoMol’ Molintas, retired general Benjamin Magalong, Ryan Dale Mangusan, Nestor Fongwan Sr. of NBFGuada Waters, Peter Rey Bautista, and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.