CHRISTMAS in Baguio will open with a display of lights and colors on December 1 via the “Silahis ng Pasko” activities and the ceremonial lighting of the Christmas tree and the much-awaited lantern parade at Session Road.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan invites residents and tourists to witness the activities which will launch the month-long calendar of yuletide treats in the city.
Session Road will be closed to traffic from 12 midnight of November 30 up to midnight of December 1 to give way to the activities spread out during the day.
Councilor Elmer Datuin said the program proper will begin at 3 p.m. with the Christmas Carols by the choral groups of St. Louis University, University of the Cordilleras, University of Baguio and the Asia Pacific Theological Seminary (APTS) at the production site to be set at Upper Session Road.
This will be followed by the nativity scene production by the Baguio City National High School at 5:45 p.m.
At 6:15p.m., Datuin will open the program afterwhich, Domogan and Rep. Nicasio Aliping Jr. will deliver their Christmas messages.
At 6:27 p.m., the countdown and lighting of the Christmas Tree simultaneous with the fireworks display.
At 6:30 p.m., the crowd-drawer St. Louis University lantern parade will be staged from Session Road to Harrison Road to Baguio Athletic Bowl.
This will be followed by the Christmas Concert by the Philippine Military Academy Band and other local bands at 7 p.m.
The day will open with a children-parents mardigras at 8 a.m. along Session Road featuring children from the various day care centers clad in their colorful Christmas costumes.
This will be followed by the Silahis ng Pasko grand opening program and ceremonies at 9 a.m. at the Melvin Jones grandstand to be graced by Domogan and Aliping.
At 2 p.m. the Miss and Mr. Little Silahis ng Pasko 2014 will be staged at the Malcolm Square featuring the awards ceremonies, children’s “kultora-o-rama,” and dancefest.
Activities under the Christmas in Baguio calendar will resume on Dec. 4-5 with the Bravehearts Martial Arts: “Misyong Posible-Martial Arts Scho 2015” at the Baguio Convention Center.
On Dec. 5, the Share-A-Joy Baguio Children’s Christmas Fun Alley and Raffle Joys and Palaro and Raffle for Gift Items for Little Helping Hands, newspaper, shoeshine and baggage boys to be sponsored by the John Hay Management Corporation will be held at 9 a.m. at the Camp John Hay Bell Ampitheater.
On Dec. 6, the events are the PMA Cadets Day at the Park Silent Drill Exhibition, 10 a.m. Burnham Park and the PMA Band Concert at 2:30 at the Malcolm Square. At 3 p.m., the Christmas Village launching program and concert will be staged at 3 p.m. at the Rose Garden.
The Quest for the Baguio Lucky Christmas Family will be held on Dec. 5-6 while the Immaculate Conception Day Holy Mass, 9a.m. at the Shrine of the Brown Madonna Km 7 Asin Road, Sitio Pacac, Tadiangnan, Tuba, Benguet on Dec. 8. (Aileen Refuerzo)