THE Blessed Association of Retired Persons Foundation will celebrate its annual Octoberbest Golden Festival at the Baguio City National High School auditorium on October 31.
The special event is pursuant to a Presidential Proclamation, a City Council resolution and a covenant of unity by the Baguio Elderly Assembly inked in 2003. Through the years, the celebration became a limelight episode of the Baguio Elderly Month celebration spearheaded by the City Social Welfare and Development Office under Betty Fangasan in cooperation with the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs headed by Engr. Isaias Barongan.
According to BARP president-CEO Prof. Federico Balanag, the program starts at 9AM.
“There are three main parts of the program. On the centerstage are the gran opening ceremonies which include the doxology, flag rites, the singing of the BARP hymn and the welcome remarks. Greetings will be delivered by Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Rep. Nicasio Aliping Jr.,” he said.
The second portion of the program will be the presentation of the coveted Gintong Tala Luminary Award to the 12 most outstanding senior from the city in recognition of their outstanding leadership in their respective profession or vocation and for exemplary public community development services as volunteers.
The awardees are Dr. Bishop Ricardo Sta. Cruz, head minister of Christ Theology Center and Love Ministry for spiritual and religious serve; Councilor Lilia Yaranon, government service-legislative department; Thelma Manaois, retired city treasurer for government service-executive department; Gloria Agunos, retired city prosecutor, government service-judiciary department; Dr. Vic Tiong, a prominent physician, health and medicine; Atty. Reynaldo Agranzamendez, former dean of the College of Law of the University of the Cordilleras; Leonarda Capuyan, proprietor of Narda’s Handwoven Arts and Handicrafts and international business icon for tourism and trade;
Fil-Chinese Wilbur Tan, owner and general manager of Summit Bank, Baguio-Benguet Supermart and Prime Hotel for business and trade; PSC Esteban Esco, a United States Armed Forces in the Philippines-North Luzon WWII veteran for military service; Generosa Carbonell, vice president of the Philippine Government Retirees Association-Baguio, a retired nurse and recently the 2015 Senior Citizens Officials for a Day congresswoman for humanitarian and social service; Jimmy Laking, veteran newspaperman and presently a senior staff member of the Baguio Midland Courier for journalism; and retired PNP Baguio City Police Office Inspector Roger Mejia for sports. City General Services officer Romeo Concio will also receive a special citation.
The BARP Foundation committee on awards and recognition is chaired by yours truly with Prof. Balanag and Ferdinand Balanag, our liaison officer, as members. I am also the chairman of the BARP special events committee. Prof. Balanag said Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has been invited to grace the affair as guest of honor and speaker.
Immediately after the Gintong Tala awarding, the BARP barrio fiesta will take place. It starts with the pot breaking rites by former congressman Bernardo Vergara and Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda to declare the beginning fun, fellowship and other joyful activities.
The fiesta features the presentation, sashing and crowning rites of Ginang Lakambini Marlene de Castro and her Ginoong Lakan. The entourage includes Mayor and Mrs. Domogan, Rep. and Mrs. Aliping, Vice Mayor and Mrs. Edison Bilog, and Mrs. Fangasan and Engr. Barongan.
Entertainment will come from Edong Carta, president of the Cordillera Broadcasters Alliance, the Kiddie Kingdom International School faculty dancers, Scouter and BARPer Jaime Castro and the Zamba dancers. Special waltz dance numbers by BARP couples will also give luster to the occasion.
On focus are the paper wedding anniversary celebrants, the silver anniversary couples, the golden anniversary couples and diamond jubilee couples. The day’s presentation will end with a raffle draw.
At the height of typhoon Lando last Tuesday, a big pine tree was uprooted and hit the kitchen of our house on the slopes of Benin, Barangay Pinsao Proper. Immediately I called DZWT 540 at about 930AM about the incident. Anchorwoman and reporter Rose Malekchan immediately informed the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for the much needed help. Unfortunately, all the rescue teams were in other parts of the city needing the same assistance. So I called Rose again. This time she notified the Baguio Fire Department emergency squad who responded to my request for help.
It was a good four hours since I asked for help. The rescuers came over with some of our barangay officials. The devastating winds were in full fury but the firemen were brave and quick enough to remove the fallen tree before it could do more damage. It took them nearly an hour to do the job. I did not know the firemen were in my compound earlier. Former PP barangay captain Willy said the team had to first remove the fallen tree which struck our electrical TV and telephone post to the ground at the entrance of our residence along Bening road, a few meters above our house.
With God’s blessing, our situation is back to normal except that our telephone service is still not functioning. We informed the PLDT office several times already and we hope they can fix it the soonest as it is a very important facility in my manifold work responsibilities, especially at this time of year.
My family and I are very thankful and appreciative for the immediate information services of radio station DZWT 540, especially Rose, and of course, to the Baguio City firemen-rescue team and our neighbor Max. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat, including our barangay officials in the rescue group. May your tribe increase.