BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Mayor Benjamin Magalong led the destruction of 14,362 different types of firecrackers during the Ceremonial Destruction of Confiscated Firecrackers, Pyrotechnic Devices and Boga, at the Melvin Jones Football ground, Burnham Park, Baguio City, on January 7. The confiscated firecrackers, worth P120,985, were from the intensified operation of the Baguio City Police Office headed by PCol.Ruel Tagel, against sellers and firecrackers users from December 23 to January 6. It can be recalled that even before the holiday season, Magalong issued an order to be strict in catching illegal firecrackers, based on the long-standing ordinance. He also warned barangay officials and chiefs of police of each station to explain why there are illegal firecrackers in their jurisdictions. According to the City Health Service Office, four individuals were injured due to fireworks. The Department of Health-Cordillera recorded a total of 45 individuals injured due to fireworks in the region.          

By Pigeon Lobien   BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — With 12 of the 900 bamboo saplings to be planted at the Media Camp, the plants capability to recue pollution in an urban setting will be tested, the Philippine Bamboo Foundation believes. This is the belief of PBF president Edgardo Manda who eyes more than 900 bamboo saplings of 15 varieties to be planted at the Camp which he said “would mean a demonstration of bamboo’s capabilty to reduce air pollution in an urban setting, creating a bamboo eco-park as a learning tool to educate students and public on bamboos role in environmental protection.” He said this writer before New Year’s Day that the PBF’s advocacy on bamboo education and use of the bamboo eco-park “proof of concept will drive people or the public to adopt bamboo for nature based solution against environmental degradation.” He said that there is a need for Baguio officials to “take a good look at bamboos role in hillside and slope protections.” He added: “using Baguio’s homegrown well adapted bamboo species called Phyllostachys aurea commonly called Benguet bamboo.” The PBF, its partner All In on December 12 planted 12 multiplex to jumpstart the six month project to populate the Media Camp at the picnic grove of Burnham Park. The rain drenched Friday afternoon ceremony served as the one year celebration of the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club memorandum of agreement adopting the portion of the park with the city government led by mayor Benjamin Magalong. The torrential rain was welcomed by the PBF president saying that it was a blessing, in fact, more than a blessing after leading the planting with All In’s Faith Mondejar and the late Nicolas Ilagan’s widow, Laarni nee Sibayan, formerly a Sun Star Baguio reporter. He said that planting will continue until May when the first saplings planted will mature.                    

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) is setting its sights on the full-scale implementation of its automated metering infrastructure (AMI) in the next five years to achieve its mission of making its power distribution system safe, resilient, and efficient, and elevate to Level IV category its current status under the global Smart Distribution Utility Network. BENECO General Manager Engr. Melchor S. Licoben said that the AMI will pave the way for the electric cooperative to read the power consumption of the consumers in the headquarters through an established state of the rt system with the aid of technology, which is part of its ongoing innovations to further improve its efficiency in providing cheap and quality power. Initially, he stated that there is an ongoing pilot testing of the AMI in Barangay Pinget, where some 300 meters have been installed in some households whose power consumption is being read through the said system. The BENECO official announced that the AMI will be implemented full scale within its franchise area in Baguio and Benguet starting next year, which is part of the electric cooperative’s long-term plan of making its power distribution system resilient, reliable, and efficient to conform with global standards in the highly competitive global power industry. He admitted that the full implementation of the AMI is the only aspect of innovation that BENECO has not yet implemented to improve its current Level III status to Level IV under the Smart Distribution Utility Network and become one of the first electric cooperatives to achieve such a coveted status in the future. According to him, there are already some 600 meters that have been put in place within BENECO’s franchise area that are being billed through the AMI, where the power bills of the consumers are being sent through the internet to their registered email addresses. He explained that the billing, disconnection, and reconnection processes, once the AMI is fully implemented, will be more efficient because of the reliability of the established system that will pave the way for fewer inconveniences among the consumers when transacting with the electric cooperative relative to the said matters.          

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The local government recently outlined the tasks of the various offices in the upcoming conduct of the 2026 Montañosa Film Festival that will run through the whole month of March. Under Executive Order No. 169, series of 2025, signed by Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, the City Administrator’s Office-Tourism, Culture and Arts Division shall provide administrative support, subject to applicable laws, rules, and regulations. The City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) was also tasked to reserve and allow the organizers to use the parks as venues for the festival activities as provided under the said order such as, but not limited to, the Diplomat Hotel for the horror film screening and the Luna Drive or the Melvin Jones grandstand for the cinecircle youth fest and Sinemurian and Folk Music Festival that would require implementation of food expo. Likewise, the CEPMO shall extend all support, specifically, but not limited to, the use of its venue and resources in landscaping and beautification of the venues and waiving of all fees appurtenant to the use of the said city facilities. The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) shall formulate and implement a festival operation plan for the safe and orderly conduct of activities, particularly in crowd management and ensuring orderly vehicular movement at various festival venues and to exclude all official vehicles submitted by the MFF team in the number coding scheme and parking regulations so as not to hamper the overall implementation of the festival while the Baguio fire department shall maintain a standby fire truck and personnel at event venues. The City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) shall allow the organizers to post, free of charge, advertising materials in the main thoroughfares of the city and surrounding the Baguio Convention Center, Session Road, and the Burnham Lake, while CBAO and the City Engineering Office (CEO) shall extend their resources in physical arrangement and other works during activities requiring such support. The CEO-Traffic and Transportation Management Division shall waive parking fees in public parking spaces for identified MFF vehicles, and assist them in terms of parking to facilitate smooth implementation of the festival, while the City Health Services Office (CHSO) shall monitor compliance with standards and reasonable health conditions during the conduct of the activities. The Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SKF) shall assist in terms of volunteers and human resources, and participate in the planning and implementation of the film festival as part of its commitment to promoting youth participation and empowerment, while the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the BFP, and the CHSO-Emergency Medical Services Office shall provide standby medical and rescue services. The Public Information Office shall cause the widest dissemination of the MFF Activities through social media postings, press releases, and live streaming of all relevant events of the festival, among others. (Baguio PIO)      

𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐨 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 The Baguio Tourism Council (BTC) successfully conducted its Board Elections following the selection of the newly elected nine private sector representatives, together with government officials marking another milestone in the council’s commitment to transparent, inclusive, and collaborative tourism governance. The newly elected sectoral representatives and government officials convened to elect the council’s key officers-Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, and Auditor. The election proceedings were presided over by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who also serves as Co-Chairperson of the Baguio Tourism Council, ensuring that the process was orderly, transparent, and in full accordance with established protocols. Nominations were opened for each position, and in a show of unity and confidence among the members, only one nominee for every post emerged, all receiving unanimous support. Voting was conducted through secret ballot following the election guidelines, with votes officially tallied by the COMELEC committee, further strengthening the integrity and credibility of the elections. Following the results, Ms. Gladys Vergara of the G3 Restaurants and Bars Sector was reelected as Chairperson, reaffirming the trust placed in her leadership. Ms. Evangeline Payno of the G1 Hotels and Resorts Sector was elected as Vice Chairperson, while Mr. Jefferson Ng of the G5 Specialized Tourism Product Providers was reelected as Treasurer. Ms. Jeneffer Palacsa-Baltazar of the G8 Travel and Tours Sector was elected as the council’s Auditor. Also present during the elections were key government partners, including DOT-CAR Regional Director Jovita Ganongan, Supervising Tourism Officer Engr. Aloysius Mapalo, and BCPO City Director Ruel Tagel, whose presence highlighted the strong partnership between national agencies, local government, and the tourism industry. TPU Chief PCPT Edith Aspilan was likewise in attendance to support the proceedings. Representing the newly elected private sector groups were the nine sectoral representatives: Evangeline Payno (G1 Hotels and Resorts), Mita Dimalanta (G2 Alternative Accommodation Establishments), Gladys Vergara (G3 Restaurants and Bars), Glenn Gaerlan (G4 Academe, Schools, and Tourism Education), Jefferson Ng (G5 Specialized Tourism Product Providers), Jasper Golangco (G6 Tourism-Oriented Business Enterprises and Organizations), Ferdinand Balanag (G7 Heritage, Culture, Arts, and Media), Jeneffer Palacsa-Baltazar (G8 Travel and Tours), and Wilson Bumay-et (G9 Allied Tourism Services). Also in attendance was KBP Baguio-Benguet President Erickson Ferrer, who served as part of the COMELEC committee, further reinforcing the transparency and credibility of the election process. An induction ceremony immediately followed, formally welcoming and congratulating the newly elected Board of Trustees of the Baguio Tourism Council. As the Baguio Tourism Council moves forward under its renewed leadership, it reaffirms its shared vision of sustainable, responsible, and inclusive tourism development. With strengthened unity between the private sector and government, the BTC looks ahead with renewed purpose, working collectively to protect Baguio’s heritage and empower its tourism stakeholders. (PR)

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Baguio City Health Services Office (CHSO), under the leadership of Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, urges all residents and visitors to prioritize health and safety during the holiday season. As festivities approach, the office launches its “Yuletide Season Health Nudges” campaign to promote safe practices and protect the community. Dr. Brillantes reminds 8 health nudges to residents and tourists alike before enjoying the holidays. “𝐘𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 𝐍𝐔𝐃𝐆𝐄𝐒”: 𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘 𝗕𝗜𝗬𝗔𝗛𝗘: 𝗡𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗘𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱. Plan your trips ahead and ensure that whoever is driving refrains from drinking alcohol. Drivers should be well-rested before getting behind the wheel to prevent fatigue-related accidents. Regularly inspect your vehicle, particularly the brakes, tires, and lights, before traveling to guarantee roadworthiness and reduce the risk of vehicular mishaps during the busy holiday season. 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗞 𝗨𝗣 𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀, 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗸, 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆. If you are feeling unwell, especially if you have a cough or cold, wear a mask to prevent the spread of illness. This is particularly important when interacting with vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly or those with weakened immune systems. Practicing good respiratory hygiene helps protect not only your loved ones but also the wider community. 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗗: 𝗧𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀, 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝘆𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗰. 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗮𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱. 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗹𝘆. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝟯 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀. Maintain strict hygiene when preparing, cooking, and storing food. Wash your hands thoroughly before handling food, cook meals to proper temperatures, and refrigerate leftovers promptly. These habits help prevent foodborne illnesses like gastroenteritis, which can quickly spread during gatherings where food is shared. For drinking water, if bottled water is not available, make sure to boil water for at least 3 minutes for drinking water. For leftover food, it is generally recommended to reheat food only once for optimal safety, as each reheating cycle increases bacterial risk by passing through the danger zone (40-140°F). 𝗘𝗡𝗝𝗢𝗬 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗗 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗦: 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗮. 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿. The holidays are often marked by indulgent feasts, but balance is key. Alongside traditional favorites like lechon or watwat, make sure to serve and eat plenty of vegetables and fruits. A balanced diet supports your immune system and overall health. Having a meal with only meat and rice, especially on a daily basis, will increase your risk for non-communicable diseases that cause heart failure, stroke, and diabetes, among others. 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦: 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. Continue taking all prescribed maintenance medications, even amidst the excitement of the season. Set reminders if needed, and bring medicines with you if you will be traveling or attending events. Consistency in medication helps manage chronic conditions and prevents emergencies. 𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘𝗟𝗬: 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. On the evening of December 21, 2025, an 11-year-old male from Lower Dagsian was rushed to Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center after an illegal firecracker, identified as a “5-Star,” exploded while in his possession. While the patient was successfully treated with anti-tetanus serums and has since been discharged, health officials warn that the incident could have been far more tragic. Instead of using firecrackers, which can cause injuries and fires, opt for safer ways to make noise and celebrate, such as banging gongs, pans, or other safe objects. This tradition not only protects individuals from harm but also promotes a safer community celebration. 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗘𝗞𝗝𝗔𝗗: 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲, 𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁, 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴. One of the CHSO’s advocacies is to promote active mobility such as walking, jogging, biking, and Zumba sessions daily. Sedentary lifestyle (or the lack of exercise) is a contributory factor to major illnesses in the city, such as heart diseases, cancer, among others. Promoting Zumba sessions during holiday activities and celebrations will help prevent such deadly illnesses. 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗘𝗘𝗣 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗠: 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀, 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗼 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀. Visitors are likewise advised to bring warm clothing, as the cool Baguio breeze might affect their immunity to certain illnesses. Should tourists plan to visit the city, make sure they have no alarming symptoms that might affect their health during their travel. Make sure they are well rested, not ill, and bring their medications with them before travelling. Tourists are also reminded to go through the policies of the city, such as the adherence to the Anti-Smoking and Anti-Vaping ordinance, prohibiting smoking and vaping in all public places.

By Rose Frejane A. Cruz   BAGUIO CITY – The first child of working parents became this year’s Lucky Christmas Baby, after the long-awaited return of the National Correspondents Club of Baguio (NCCB) groups’ program, on December 25. This year’s lucky Christmas Baby is Baby boy Kyro, born at 3:04 a.m. on December 25, through normal delivery at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) to parents Charlize Nicolie Dizon Mariano and Gibriel Malupeng Estoque, both 21 years-old of Aurora Hill, Baguio City. The baby boy is the first child of Charlize Nicolie , from Mangaldan ,Pangasinan and Gibriel , both working as cashiers in a food establishment in the city. ” Kyro is God’s blessing to us. Thank you Lord, ‘ the mother Charlize Nicolie told media men , just seven hours after giving birth. ‘Maraming..maraming salamat po sa mga taong tumulong—sa doctor ,mga nursing staff ng BGHMC,” added Charlize while cradling her son, and who looked exhausted -lack of sleep yet filled with love and joy. The parents also expressed gratitude to the organizer of the project. The lucky one and parent received Christmas gifts ,the package included cash and assorted goodies. This annual lucky Christmas Baby is a special Yuletide project-  a tradition of the NCCB, aimed at sharing joy to the less privileged. This program traces its roots to the 1970s, when it was first introduced as a special Christmas feature known as Silahis ng Pasko. It was the brainchild of the late Nars Padilla, founding president of the NCCB. Padilla was a respected sportsman and program manager who also served as a city councilor, tourism officer, national executive of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, and the first camp director of Gintong Alay. NCCB officers led by Primo Agatep, Thomas Picana ,Zaldy Comanda presented gifts in behalf of the press club while social worker Mariete Mae Yapyap ,represented Liza Bulayungan ,head of the City Social and Welfare Development Office (CSWDO). The project is in cooperation with City Social and Welfare Development Office (CSWDO) and BGHMC ,and supported by Suyoc Taneg Indigenous Livelihood Association (STILA) of Mankayan, Lower Gomok Multipurpose Cooperative (LGMC) Of Itogon, Nay-en Tuluan Small Scale Miners Association-BFSSMI; John Hay Management Corp., SM-Baguio, Amianan Balita Ngayon (ABN), and Marie Krystal Uy.        

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Mayor Benjamin Magalong called on Filipinos to reflect deeply on the kind of nation they want to build, urging a change in mindset—particularly in choosing the country’s leaders—amid growing public frustration and social challenges. In his Christmas message, Magalong extended his wishes of a “Merry Merry Christmas and an Advanced Happy New Year” to the public, before sharing what he described as his single, most important message for the season: the need for personal and collective change. Magalong stressed that Filipinos must become more discerning when electing leaders, noting that repeated choices of corrupt and traditional politicians have contributed to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness among citizens. He observed that public anger often runs high during times of crisis but fades over time, leading voters to re-elect the same leaders. “We feel so hopeless, we feel so helpless. Galit tayo lahat, mataas ang emotion natin,” Magalong said, adding that these sentiments are often forgotten after a few years, only to be repeated in the next election cycle. He appealed to voters to break this pattern for the sake of the country’s future. Magalong also raised concerns about the growing impact of social media on mental health, especially among young people. He cited the rise in stress, pressure, mental health issues, and suicide cases, which he linked in part to excessive exposure to online platforms. As a personal appeal for the holiday season, the mayor encouraged the public to step back from social media and focus instead on having “a clear mind, a happy heart, and a caring heart.” He urged Filipinos to set aside their political and social issues temporarily and embrace the true spirit of Christmas by showing love, compassion, and generosity—particularly to indigent individuals and those most in need. “This is the right time for us to share and show love and care,” Magalong said, emphasizing that Christmas should be a season of unity, reflection, and genuine concern for others. – Aileen P. Refuerzo    

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Baguio City Health Services Office reminds the public not to neglect heart health and mental wellness during the yuletide season. Dr. Donnabel T. Panes of the CHSO Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit said holiday celebrations may lead to neglect of taking prescribed maintenance medicines particularly those with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases – which are the leading cause of death in the city. “Madalas sa handaan may alak at kapag naka-inom na, nakakalimutan na ang gamot,” the doctor said. She encouraged healthy food options during the yuletide celebrations as well to ensure that blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar and creatinine levels are within the normal or safe numbers. From January to December 15, 2025 a total of 828 deaths due to cardiovascular diseases were recorded by the CHSO and 179 deaths due to cerebrovascular diseases for the same period. Deaths increase during peak weather changes particularly during the months of April and November to December. Panes likewise emphasized the importance of maintaining respectful and kind conversions during family or social gatherings during the yuletide season for mental health and wellness. “We should refrain from commenting on someone’s weight, marital or financial status among others because these might add to pressure resulting in holiday blues,” Panes said. Holiday blues is defined as the temporary feelings of sadness, stress, loneliness, or anxiety that many people experience during the festive season stemming from pressures like financial strain, family conflict, grief over lost loved ones, and unmet expectations, among others. CHSO data showed emerging concerns on increased deaths linked to suicide and nicotine-related diseases. As of Dec. 15, 2025 a total of 35 deaths by suicide were recorded by the CHSO. “This is the season of giving and merrymaking but it may not be the same for those with medical or mental pressures, so let us all be kind and celebrate the healthy way,” Panes said. – JM Samidan