Wednesday 31st August, 2011
MANILA, Philippines — Baguio City celebrates its 102nd Charter Day today with the theme “Sustaining the Growth of Baguio through Teamwork.” The various activities for the celebration will be ushered in by a “diana of bands” that will parade through the city’s barangays, the pealing of church bells, a Eucharistic Celebration, and Spiritual Offerings by various religious denominations.
A Grand Parade will have participants starting from various points of the City and converging at the Athletic Bowl for the Grand Charter Day Program.
The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio will showcase on September 3, 2011, a Fried Rice Festival, which will treat over 15,000 local residents and tourists with at least eight flavors of fried rice. The event will serve as the highlight of the 8th Hotel and Restaurant Tourism Weekend.
Other activities include the search for the Baguio Lucky Charter Babies (a boy and a girl); quest for Mr. and Ms. Baguio; sports events; medical and dental outreach program; and tree planting and conservation efforts.
The launching program for the month-long Charter Day celebration was held on August 22, 2011. It featured “I Love Baguio” orations by students from select schools of the Summer Capital, the turnover of the “I Love Baguio” Pulso 102 boxes, conferment of “I Love Baguio” pins, the 102nd Baguio Day Recorida Jeep, and the pre-Baguio Day message of Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan.
On June 1, 1903, the Philippine Commission designated Baguio as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines.” Six years later, On September 1, 1909, the Philippine Assembly granted Baguio a city charter. Derived from the Ibaloi word “bagiw,” the name Baguio means ‘moss,’ because the City’s topography is conducive to the growth of mossy plants and orchids.
A small native settlement in 1900, Baguio has grown into a metropolis with the mushrooming of residential, commercial, and industrial establishments in the city. And because of its cool year-round climate, Baguio city offers respite to local and foreign tourists from the pollution and heat of lowland areas.
Among the favorite tourist attractions in the City are Philippine Military Academy, Burnham Park, Teacher’s Camp, Camp John Hay, the Baguio Botanical Garden, the Baguio City Cathedral, Mines View Park, and Mansion House.
We congratulate Baguio City headed by Congressman Bernardo M. Vergara, Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, Vice Mayor Daniel T. Fariñas, other Officials and Residents, on the occasion of its 102nd Charter Day. We wish them all the best and success in all their endeavors. MABUHAY!