BAGUIO CITY – The city of Baguio has formally ushered the Yuletide Season. On December 1, more than a thousands of children from various day care centers in the city together with their parents excitedly and with full of energy braved the morning cool mountain weather paraded with their colorful costumes to usher the start of this year’s Silahis ng Pasko activities.
The Mardigras is one of the highlights of Silahis ng Pasko, a brainchild of Nars Padilla, a veteran journalist, sportsman and former city tourism officer and city councilor. Silahis ng Pasko was institutionalized in the city to give importance to the children’s participation in the Christmas celebration. It is now on its 42nd year.
In the evening, city officials led by Mayor Mauricio Domogan led the lighting of the city’s Christmas Tree at the Rotunda at the top of Session Road followed by a fireworks display and the Christmas concerts and choral singing.
The Saint Louis University also staged its much awaited lantern parade participated by thousands of students displaying their colorful and artistic lanterns along Session Road and Harrison Road. This year, they featured the various Philippine festivals alongside their lighted colorful lanterns.
The night was capped by fireworks display from three sites in the different areas in the city.
Meanwhile, activities lined up for the Christmas in Baguio include Share A Joy Baguio Children’s Christmas Fun Alley and Raffle Joys care of the John Hay Management Corporation on December 5; Philippine Military Academy Cadets Day at the Burnham Park which includes a silent drill exhibition and the PMA Band Concert on December 6 and the Christmas Village launching program and concert at 3PM on December 6.
The Quest for the Baguio Lucky Christmas Family 2015 will also be held on December 5 and 6 while the Immaculate Conception Day Festivities – Holy Mass at the Shrine of the Brown Madonna along Km 7, Asin Road, Sitio Pacac, Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet / 9:00 AM of December 8.
Other activities include the University of the Philippines Pasiklaban, Torch Parade and Oblation Run on December 11 and the 1st Northern Hemisphere Music Concert at the Baguio Convention Center on December 12.
On December 12 also will be the Silahis ng Pasko Special Day for Special People c/o CSWDO & NCCB which includes the Wheelathon (Orthopedically impaired), Walkathon (Visually Impaired Persons)Chess Tournament for the Sightless Special Athletes at the Malcolm Square.
On December 15 will be the traditional Christmas Cantata of the University of Baguio, and the traditional Misa de Gallo from December 16 to 24 at the Baguio Convention Center and the various churches.
The 1st Baguio Triathlon will also be held at on December 19./JDP/RMC with reports from JB Zambrano-PIA CAR
