BAGUIO CITY – Some 4,000 Day Care children and parents will parade along Session Road donning Nativity Scene costumes and other colorful Christmas garbs for the “Silahis ng Pasko” Mardi Gras, one of the special attractions during the Christmas in Baguio opening activities on Dec. 1.
The parade will start at the top of Session Road at 8 a.m. and will end at the Melvin Jones for the Silahis ng Pasko opening program to be graced by Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Rep. Marquez Go.
Silahis ng Pasko founder Nars Padilla said the opening rites will be marked by a ceremonial pot breaking by the mayor, the congressman, city social welfare development officer Betty Fangasan together with the children.
The program will also feature a cultural show topbilled by the winners of the children’s pageant and talent shows conducted by the OCSWDO.
At 10 a.m., the Philippine Military Academy cadets will hold their day at the Burnham Park by staging the traditional Silent Drill exhibition at the Melvin Jones.
The cadets’ special guests this year will be the members of the quad-media in the city together with the officers and members of the senior citizens organizations.
At 2 p.m., the cadets will move to the People’s Park at 2 p.m. for Christmas concert of the PMA band.
Padilla said the Silahis ng Pasko, a sub-calendar of the Christ mas in Baguio, is now on its 44th year.
It will have its launch on Nov. 26 with a Thanksgiving Holy Mass at the Shrine of the Brown Madonna at 10 a.m. to be officiated by Rev. Fr. Alejandro Bangilan, formateur of San Pablo Seminary and Silahis ng Pasko spiritual adviser.
Before the mass, a ceremonial offering of 44 candles, 44 candles and 44 balloons will be conducted at the shrine to mark the anniversary.
The offering will be led by the winners of the Little Miss and Mr. Silahis ng Pasko contests and their parents.
The Christmas in Baguio opening on Dec. 1 will also feature the inauguration of the giant art installation by Tinatik artist Maela Liwanag Jose at the rotunda at Upper Session Road at 3 p.m. along with the Christmas concert featuring local talents and other activities along Session Road, the ceremonial lighting of the giant Christmas tree at the Rose Garden, Burnham Park at 5:30 p.m., the crowd-drawing lantern parade by the St. Louis University at 6 p.m. and a fireworks display. /Aileen P. Refuerzo
