DoT secretary Puyat is Baguio Day keynote speaker

August 29, 2020 Metro BLISTT

Secretary of Tourism Bernadette Romulo-Puyat serves as keynote speaker during the 111th Baguio Charter virtual celebration on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Congressman Marquez Go also imparts his Baguio Day message with Mayor Benjamin Magalong delivering the State of the City Address (SOCA).
As announced earlier, invitation to the program at the Baguio Convention Center is controlled due to minimum health protocols imposed to the public. Social distancing, the use of face mask and face shield among attendees shall be strictly implemented in the venue, as precautionary measures against the spread of Covid- 19.
The program is done online and livestreamed virtually with most parts pre-recorded including intermission number “I love My Baguio” as performed by Vanessa Faye Dulay and Ivan Mark de Leon, the music and lyrics of the song by Normita Pablico and Alejandro Pablico, respectively.
Home-grown talent Ingrid Payaket also performs her composition “Bangon Baguio,” her entry in the Baguio Day song writing contest launched earlier. Both numbers are also tributes to frontliners who performed various duties for the past six months.
A tribute to more than 600 frontliners: social and healthworkers, border guards, peacekeepers, barangay officials, business, transport representatives shall be done with their names flashed onscreen. A representative per frontliner group is present at BCC with actual awards given in different schedules, at city hall.
The annual search and awarding of outstanding Baguio citizens is cancelled for this year. As announced by City Tourism and Special Events Office (CTSEO) head Engr. Aloysius Mapalo, activities for the celebration is spread over the month. A mural painting however is done on National Heroes Day.August 31, with the Kalasag variants at Sunshine Park as subjects. On Victory Day, Sept. 3, the US Embassy at Camp John Hay issues commemorative medals to 13 remaining World War II veterans marking the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII.
This is done individually in veterans’ homes to avoid public convergence at the Veterans’ Memorial Park along Harrison road. There shall be no flower offering or ceremonies at the Veterans’ park either. Photo and poster-making contests in consonance with the theme: “Sa ika111 anibersaryo, Angat tayo Baguio,” have been floated, with winners announced online, Mapalo also said.
A three-day per week for craftsmen and artisans to share their artwork to the public at a certain portion of Session road as part of the celebration has been proposed. According to Mapalo, holders of Mall and Market Schedule (MMS) may participate as long their respective schedules are observed judiciously.
They also need to abide with the minimum health protocols, wear face mask and shield, and practice social distancing. An entrance and exit along the main road shall be designated for a oneway human traffic, it was known.
A virtual job fair done by the Local Government Unit of Baguio through the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) is slated on Sept. 21 to 24, with details to be posted on a later date. A Kennon road mural shall also be done mid-month, with ribbon-cutting by the end of September.
Other outdoor activities planned for eventual transition to the new normal includes “limited for locals only,” drive-in movies in spacious areas and boating at Burnham lake with guidelines to be crafted by the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO), CTSEO and other concerned offices.
Environmentalists are not to be left out, with tree-planting by city officials to be scheduled on certain days, still to avoid groupings. Garden hopping as a trending activity has also caught on in the city, said City Veterinarian Brigit Piok, as she expounded on having a learning site in Lucnab for interested urban gardeners. The model garden and planting culture could be observed and replicated in other areas in the city, Piok
said.
Julie G. Fianza PIO