BAGUIO CITY – Various activities are being prepared to commemorate important dates this month, Vice-mayor Daniel Farinas revealed during last week’s regular “Ugnayan” at city hall.
For July 4, earlier celebrated in the country as Filipino-American Friendship day, simultaneous tree-planting shall be done in various areas of the city. A film with social relevance shall also be shown at the Baguio Convention Center, the vice-mayor informed the media group. The activities are being done for the historical friendship of the two countries, he said.
July 14 likewise marks the second “Walk, Baguio, Walk,” this time with the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center as host.
On July 16, a recognition program for local heroes shall be done. “It will not be a grandiose affair,” the vice-mayor said, not to re-live the terror and sorrow felt then, but to honor and recognize emergency and communication groups that worked together in rescuing survivors.
He was referring to the July 16 temblor that shook the city and neighboring areas, eighteen (18) years ago. The 7.7 quake on the Richter scale, claimed lives and property around the city. “Those times tested our strength and unity as a people,” Vice-mayor Farinas reminisced.
Non-government organizations and private entities who went out of their way to help shall be recognized, the vice-mayor added.
A photo exhibit is also being arranged for the affair.
July 17, unknown to many, the vice-mayor revealed, is the 30th year of the tournament between then world chess champions Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi. The games were then played at the Baguio Convention Center for weeks.
On July 23, the birthday of recognized sublime paralytic Apolinario Mabini shall be commemorated. Mabini, is known as the spokesman, conscience and mind of the Philippine revolution.
It would be fitting to look back at our heroes as models to the youth, the vice-mayor said. “We have to establish a connection between what transpired in the past to the freedom we are enjoying today,” he added.
The vice-mayor confirmed he believes the commemoration is the “proper approach to inculcate nationalism in our young people.” -juliegfianza
