Lucky Baguio Charter Day babies to be named on Sept. 1

THE annual search for the lucky Baguio Charter Day Babies will take place starting midnight of August 31 at the children's free ward section of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC). The fraternal offering is a special feature of the 108th Founding Day celebration of Magandang Baguio, the Summer Capital of the Philippines which started in 2009 during the Centennial Celebration of this mountain resort city.

The idea and implementation of the childfriendly activity is sponsored by the Baguio Elderly Assembly (BEA) in partnership with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWD), the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in cooperation with the Baguio City Charter Day Committee and the National Correspondents Club of Baguio (NCCB).

A newborn baby boy and a baby girl will surely become the occasion's instant celebrities who will, among other things, receive mabuhay and welcome greetings and gift items from the event host. Thanks to City Administrator Carlos Canilao, the executive officer of the Special Events Committee under Mayor Mauricio Domogan for his sincere and sustained support. A few days ago, Atty. Canilao confirmed the annual search is part of the city's overall program and they are ready with their share to make the endeavor a very successful one. Assorted gift packages for the mother and child will be presented by BEA member associations namely, the Federation of Baguio Senior Citizens Association headed by Edita Ibarra, BARP Foundation led by Prof. Federico Balanag, the Veterans Federation of the Philippines - Baguio District led by Gerry Mecos and the Philippine Government Retirees Association - Baguio Chapter led by Engr. Isias Barongan who is also the incumbent office head of the OSCA. The CSWDO led by Betty Fangasan will also present gift items together with the BEA. The simple gift giving ceremony will be held on Sept. 2 at nine in the morning before the lucky ones will leave the hospital.

Tomorrow, Sunday (Aug. 27), the regular every fourth Sunday Holy Mass at the Shrine of the Brown Madonna will be celebrated by Rev. Fr. Alejandro, the shrines' and the NCCB spiritual adviser. We have our fingers crossed that fine weather conditions will prevail. The mass is set at 10 a.m. after the Holy Eucharist , a modest salo-salo to celebrate the 37th birthday of Fr. Alejandro will be held. The shrine's project committee will play host for the simple get together fellowship. At the fore are the Leyson family from Urdaneta City in Pangasinan, Jaime and Gladys Tamsi from Nangalisan, Tuba, Benguet, Punong Barangay Ibarra of Upper Quezon Hill and president of FBASECA, Raffy Policarpio and yours truly and my better half, Consuelo Sol. In case of inclement weather, the holy mass and the fellowship party will be staged at the Senior Citizens Social Center at Salud Mitra Barangay. The building is beside the Mabini Elementary School.

The various calendar of activities marking the historic BEA-CSDO-ODCA 2017 OCTOBERFEST Celebration is up and ready. The Baguio elderly program is pursuant to a Presidential Proclamation and a City Council Resolution declaring the month of October every year honoring the country's Senior Citizens.

OCTOBERFEST came to life in 2002 as our officials elderly undertaking after the BEA was organized by the various city Senior Citizens organization with the approval and support of the local city government with former City Mayor Bernardo Vergara at the helm. The charter officers of BEA were the late Supt. Jose Olarte of PGRA - Baguio Chapter; the late Comdr. Robert Villasi of the USAFIP, NL Chapter, Prof. Federico Balanag of BARP Foundation, the late Ernesto Esguerra of FBASECA, the late Councilor Galo Weygan and yours truly as the BEA executive program officer with Fangasan as adviser.

Former Senator and now incumbent Congressman Rodolfo Biazon stood as witness and the BEA guest of honor and speaker. Later on through the years, I served as BEA president until today, except in 2013 when Prof. Balanag took over the position for a year.

The OCTOBERFEST committee met at least three times this month to organize the programs and its working committees and event coordinators. Here is the approved program for the special event.

Oct 2- Senior Citizens will be inducted and will take over the reign of leadership at the City Hall and application forms for SCOFAD are available at the OSCA Office..

Oct. 3 - Grand Opening Day of OCTOBERFEST 2017 at the Baguio Convention Center followed by a parade and distribution of free fruit-bearing seedlings to strengthen or "Green is Life" programs.

Oct 4-5 - Healthy life style orientation seminar care of the Department of Health-CAR.

Oct 12 - On-the-spot poem writing contest in English and Filipino. Handsome cash incentive prizes for the top three winners and five consolation prizes for each division are at stake. The contest site is at the Baguio Senior Citizens Center.

Finally on Oct. 25, the Gintong Tala leadership and community service awards will be presented to the 12 Most Outstanding Senior Citizens in the City of the Pines. The presentation and coronation rites honoring the FBASECA, BARP Foundation, PGRA, VFP Baguio District and USAFIP NL Gng. Lakambinis and their respective Ginoong Lakans followed by a cultural presentation will climax the month long OCTOBERFEST let the Baguio Convention Center sked.