THE e "ber" months are just around the corner. This does not only usher in the cold months and the yuletide season; but also, the first day of September is the city's Charter Day Anniversary. This year will be our 111th year as a chartered city, second only to Manila (a charter city in 1901), to be chartered as an independent highly urbanized city in the country.
Every year, we hold the traditional civic parade and Baguio Day program, then with activities spread out throughout the month for the revelry and enjoyment of our residents. This is one major festivity that is not necessary for visitors and tourists, but really for the locals, as a "fiesta" in the lowlands. But this year will be a little challenging. With all the health and safety protocols that we have to observe, we'll have to be more creative with the activities that we'd like to implement. Many private institutions also do not want to miss out on this year's celebrations, so private-led activities are coming in as well, but with all the strictest guidelines possible. Here are some of the plans so far.
First, we'll definitely have a simple program, with few in attendance, and to be live-streamed for the public. We are requesting that all establishments, with public viewing screens and monitors, stream the program as well. The program will include the Mayor's "State of the City Address," and a simple tribute ceremony devoted to honoring our frontliners. The program will start at 10 a.m.
Unfortunately, we'll skip the parade this year as we are still avoiding mass gatherings. But we enjoin and encourage business establishments and even residences to put up banner greetings for the city's charter anniversary, and include a message of "thank you's" to our frontliners.
To cap the day, we'll have an online concert featuring the city's best musicians and artists for everyone to enjoy in their homes and to raise funds for the creative sector that is greatly affected by the pandemic.
One important civic commemoration that we'll also conduct in a simple ceremony, is the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in our city, on September 3. A simple wreath-laying ceremony will be done by our city officials and a virtual awarding of a medal of commemoration to our veterans.
The more interesting activities that we're planning, and again, with the strictest guidelines, will be the re-opening of recreational activities for our locals. It may be great timing as we celebrate Baguio Day, but it has been pointed out recently by our medical practitioners and social workers, how the restrictive mobility regulations in the city, such as the lockdown schedules and required quarantines, is taking its toll on the mental and social wellness of our people.
So, we are sitting down in the next few days to plan out the guidelines for the following activities for the locals: The biking and boating at Burnham Park, with a special feature being arranged-movies at the lake; the horseback riding at Wright Park; the strictly reformatted Night Market, which may be conducted late afternoon to early evening; and arts and crafts fair in the daytime. All of the above will have a "new normal" take and will not be the usual as we know it from the past. Thus, patience and discipline will still be solicited from the public.
Watch out for more details from the City Tourism Office as we finalize our calendar of activities and many private-led offerings from establishments and civic groups. Yes, it may be different, but this years' celebrations will highlight what we've been and what we are, our resiliency and true character of Baguioites as we hurdle through the challenges and difficulties brought about by the pandemic. And to underscore that, we're adopting our pandemic battlecry as the theme for this year's Baguio Day celebrations-"Sa ika-111 na anibersaryo, "AngatTayoBaguio!"