Baguio Centennial Updates, June 5, 2008

BAGUIO CITY (June 06, 2008)—As of this writing, it is now exactly 450 days before the historic 100th year anniversary of Baguio as a Chartered City on September 1, 2009.
The Baguio Centennial Commission is at the thick of preparations, coordination, and planning for this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.
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The Baguio Centennial Commission has created 19 different commissions, manned by the 10 CenteCom Commissioners, who take charge of the conceptualization, planning, implementation, and coordination of various programs that will lead to the Big Day on September 1, 2009. Presently, project studies and various proposals are being collated and finalized for an official and final listing of Centennial activities leading to the grand celebration.
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Despite the scarcity of funds, the Commission draws its strength and motivation from the spirit of community that has driven Baguio City to achieve lofty heights in the past. The Commissioners have steadfastly kept the faith despite the purely voluntary nature of their assignments. After all, the satisfaction of being able to contribute something worthwhile to the City that we love, is compensation enough.
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Among items being finalized in the various committee levels are: a Centennial coffee-table book; a historical comic book; calendars; historic markers; Centennial memorabilia like commemorative car plates, stickers, stamps, and the like; the construction of memorials, and rehabilitation or conversion of present heritage sites; various sports activities and special events, shows, exhibits, and festivals. And the list continues to grow longer as more inputs come in. Indeed, the task of celebrating our city’s 100th birthday requires a lot of preparation and planning, and would need active community involvement and support.
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One of the newest highlights being considered by the committee on special events is the holding of a Centennial Woodstock concert at the Baguio Athletic Bowl by September next year. A few bands and performers abroad have already signified their intentions of coming home to Baguio and performing their favorite numbers free of charge. Not to be outdone, our local bands and performers have taken up the challenge and are willing to augment the repertoire of the balikbayan musicians. As it is, the prospect presents an exciting new dimension to the Centennial celebrations.

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Worthy of note also is the CenteCom’s appointment of an in-house researcher-cum-administrative assistant in the person of media and corporate communications practitioner Adam Borja. He is tasked with coordinating all historical research works, especially those coming from various academic institutions and volunteer organizations, and in collating all useful materials like books, manuscripts, photos, video and audio tapes, yearbooks, electronic files and other resource materials from donors and other sources. All materials gathered shall temporarily be kept in a mini-archive at the CenteComm office at the Baguio Convention Center. He may be reached through email: adambaguio@yahoo.com.
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The CenteCom wishes to extend its heartfelt thanks to the publishers for allowing us to post updates, announcements, and other information in this column. This space is indispensable in disseminating information to the general public and would lead to a wider understanding of our city’s past while ensuring a successful commemoration on September 1, 2009. In next issue, we shall be publishing committee and CenteCom updates along with historical trivia about Baguio City’s first 100 years. Watch out for it!
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