BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio Cathedral- Our Lady of the Atonement has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the Holy Father, Pope Francis and will hold a Requiem Mass in his honor on Friday, April 25, 2025, at 5:15 p.m. presided over by His Excellency, Most Rev. Rafael T. Cruz D.D., Bishop of Baguio. Catholics in Baguio City are also deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88 on April 21. According to Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Pope Francis was a true model of humility, compassion, and unwavering faith. Through his life of service, he reminded the world of the power of kindness, the strength of mercy, and the hope found in unity. His words and actions touched countless lives, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come. “On behalf of the Catholic faithful of Baguio City, I extend my heartfelt condolences on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, who has peacefully returned to our Creator. We mourn with the rest of the world the loss of a beloved and gentle shepherd,” Magalong said. Baguio Tourism Council Chairperson Gladys Vergara meanwhile, shared her condolences on the passing of the Holy Pope. “With deep sorrow, we join the global Catholic community in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. A shepherd of compassion, humility, and unwavering faith, Pope Francis dedicated his life to serving the Church and promoting the dignity of all people—especially the poor, the marginalized, and the forgotten. His message of mercy, love, and unity transcended borders, bringing light and hope to millions around the world. His legacy will live on in the hearts of those he inspired and in the transformative reforms he courageously championed. We extend our deepest condolences to the Vatican and to Catholics everywhere. May his soul rest in God’s eternal peace. Devout Catholic Agnes Montoya, He was the leader of all peoples here after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the entire world mourns his passing. We pray that this will be the beginning of peace and unity regardless of belief and religion.

By Jordan G. Habbiling   The Baguio City Council has approved on third and final reading an ordinance that aims to provide financial relief to building owners in Baguio City who were retroactively penalized under Presidential Decree No. 1096, or the National Building Code of the Philippines, for constructing buildings before the decree took effect. The measure seeks to waive 80% of the P10,000.00 administrative fine. The proposed ordinance principally authored by Councilor Jose Molintas states that the 10,000.00 administrative fine under PD 1096 places an unreasonable financial burden on affected building owners. Through the ordinance, once enacted, the city government will formally waive 80% of the administrative fine. The remaining 20% goes to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and will still be paid by the building owner. To apply for the waiver, building owners must submit the following documents to the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO): accomplished application form, proof of ownership, proof of non-tax delinquency, and copy of DWPH assessment notice. The CBAO is tasked with creating the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to guide the enforcement of the ordinance. The IRR will outline how applications are processed, who qualifies, and how compliance is monitored. The ordinance will take effect 15 days after the IRR is approved. A copy of the ordinance will be sent to Congress, urging lawmakers to consider amendments to PD 1096. The ordinance has been transmitted to the City Mayor’s Office to be signed by Mayor Benjamin Magalong.    

BAGUIO CITY —The Social Security System (SSS) of Baguio City has initiated a campaign aimed at extending social security protection to workers in the nightlife industry, including nightclub staff and KTV bar entertainers. SSS Acting Vice President for Luzon North 1 Division Nancy Umoso emphasized the importance of encouraging nightlife workers to register as members to access a wide range of benefits during life’s unforeseen circumstances. “Our vision at SSS is to provide a viable social security institution that offers universal and equitable social protection to all members through world-class service. We are dedicated to covering all workers, regardless of their chosen profession,” Umoso stated. SSS Account Officers visited six nightclubs and KTV bars along Marcos Highway, successfully registering 47 individuals who are mostly entertainers. They also assisted these workers in obtaining their Social Security (SS) numbers and guided them in creating their My.SSS accounts. Given that entertainers do not typically receive monthly salaries and earn on a commission basis, Umoso explained that they are categorized as self-employed members of the SSS. “They are responsible for paying their monthly SSS contributions, which can range from P760 to P5,280, depending on their declared monthly earnings.” Meanwhile, Umoso noted that the night clubs they visited are compliant in terms of reporting and remitting the SSS contributions of their regular employees such as cooks, waiters and security personnel. She added that regular payment of SSS contributions would make them eligible for various benefits, including those for sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, funeral, and death. “Additionally, they can receive extra benefits under the Employees’ Compensation Program for work-related sickness, injury, or death,” Umoso explained. As SSS members, nightlife workers may also become eligible for various SSS loan programs, including the Salary Loan, Calamity Loan, and Pension Loan for retiree-pensioners.      

By Rose Frejane A. Cruz   PUGO, LA UNION – A family, consisting of seven people, got lucky on their vacation in Baguio City, after they were selected as Baguio-Benguet Lucky Summer Visitor 2025 by the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club, Inc (BCBC), this morning in Pugo,La Union. According to Dionisio Dennis, of DZWT and president of BCBC, they started taking positions in Pugo town, around 7:00 a.m., to recruit first timers by stopping traveling buses with the help of the LTO and the Department of Tourism-Cordillera. Those selected at 8:21 a.m on the ninth bus aboard the Victory Liner bus plate number NAZ 2113 that traveled at 3:00 a.m. from Cubao, to Baguio City, are the Celestino family from Pasig City namely Ricardo Jr., a 62-year-old carpenter, and his wife Carolyn Andres Celestino, 57, a housewife. They were joined by their daughter Julia, 11, and niece Eunice, 13, both students, who were eager to make the most of this golden opportunity, especially the prospect of strawberry picking—a quintessential Benguet experience. They were joined by partners Jerome Celestino,30, a customer service representative and Jellyn Bautista, 31, an admin assistant, along with their three-year-old nephew Eugin. “They are very lucky and we are also lucky, as it is considered Lucky 7 and this event not only celebrates the joy of discovery for first-time visitors but also highlights the vibrant tourism spirit of the region, supported by local governments and private partners. After a short program where the visitors meet the municipal officials of Pugo, the group will proceed to Tuba, Benguet to pay a courtesy call to Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan for an official welcoming program and to Baguio City Hall for a courtesy call to Mayor Benjamin Magalong. Their four-day red carpet tour, a hallmark of BCBC tradition, will see the visitors visit iconic spots such as La Trinidad strawberry farms, Polig’s Berry Farm, Beacon Hill, and cultural sites in Baguio and Benguet.