Sa loob ng tatlong magkakasunod na Sabado ng Agosto at Setyembre, binibigyan ng pansin ang mga PDL (Persons Deprived of Liberty) upang matugunan ang kanilang mga hamon sa aspeto ng kanilang psycho-social, emosyonal, at espiritwal na kalagayan. Noong Agosto 31, 2024, matagumpay na natapos ang unang bahagi ng programa kung saan 105 PDLs ang nakatanggap ng suporta mula sa 25 tagapayo ng UpLife Movement Inc. at Jesus Reigns Ministries-Baguio Benguet, sa pangunguna ng kanilang Presidente ng samahan, Rev. Rowena “Wawie” Orajay. Ang programang ito ay kaalinsunod din sa pagtugon sa suportang pangpiitan na nakabatay sa Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) kasama ang BJMP Baguio City Jail Male Dormitory sa pamumuno ni Warden JSupt. April Rose Wandag-Ayangwa. Ang UpLife at JRM’s C.A.R.E. Coaching and Counseling Program ay may layuning mapatatag ang buhay ng ating mga PDLs sa mga sumusunod na aspeto gaya ng Compassion (Pagdamay):Pagtuturo ng empatiya at pag-unawa sa kapwa PDL; Awareness (Kamulatan):Pagpapalawak ng kamalayan sa sarili at ang epekto ng mga personal na kilos; Resilience (Katatagan): Paghubog ng kakayahang harapin ang stress at mga pagsubok; Empowerment (Pagpapalakas ng Loob):Pagtuturo sa mga PDL na kontrolin ang kanilang buhay at magtagumpay sa pagbabago a Coaching (Pagsasanay):Paghahanda sa mga PDL na maging peer counselors upang magkaroon ng masiglang komunidad sa loob ng pasilidad. Sa mga susunod pang Sabado (Sept. 6 at 23, 2024), ang naturang kaakibat na grupo ay magpapatuloy sa pag-abot sa ating mga nangangailangang kapwa sa loob ng piitan upang sila’y tulungang maka-hakbang tungo sa liwanag ng buhay at may pag-asang bukas sa kanilang landas at sa paghahahanda sa matatag na buhay sa pagbalik sa komunidad. Photos by Mileyvonne Tiamzon

  BAGUIO CITY – Building on the positive momentum from recent engagements, the Baguio Tourism Council (BTC) has ramped up its outreach to barangays in and around the central business district, with a focus on maximizing the economic benefits of tourism. Spearheading these efforts, BTC Chairperson Gladys Vergara has been actively engaging with officials from 11 key barangays, emphasizing the need for equitable and inclusive growth. During her dialogues with barangay leaders from Upper Magsaysay, New Lucban, Lower General Luna, AZCKO, Harrison Carantes, ABCR, Malcolm Square, Upper Market, Camp Allen, Kabayanihan, and Rizal Monument, Vergara highlighted the importance of ensuring that these areas fully capitalize on the economic opportunities generated by the influx of tourists. “Your barangays are at the heart of where tourism thrives, yet the full economic potential seems unevenly tapped,” Vergara observed. She underscored the necessity of extending development beyond the city’s central business zones, stating, “Dispersing growth to areas on the periphery is essential. We must leverage tourism’s influence to drive comprehensive and inclusive development across Baguio.” Vergara also stressed the importance of ensuring that the benefits of growth reach all sectors of society. “Our people, particularly those in lower economic brackets, should experience the advantages of development. Equitable growth accelerates when it is shared, and those most in need should be prioritized,” she added. The ongoing dialogues are part of Vergara’s broader strategy to promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth throughout Baguio City, ensuring that all barangays, especially those near the central business district, benefit from the city’s thriving tourism industry.        

SM City Baguio is making significant strides in water stewardship with its innovative rainwater treatment facility (RTF), launched in July 2023. In the months since, the facility has already processed over 17,111.80 cubic meters of rainwater – equivalent to 7 Olympic-size swimming pools, or enough to fill over 6,800 standard water tankers – into potable water for the SM mall’s operations and for their lessees’ use. This initiative supplements the mall’s water supply from the Baguio Water District and significantly contributes to the city’s water security and the safety of its residents. Located at the mall’s basement level, the RTF provides 30% of the mall’s total monthly average requirement for clean water that is safe for consumption and food preparation. “There is a critical need for reliable and safe water sources,” said Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong. “And SM City Baguio’s rainwater treatment facility is a commendable initiative that directly addresses this need. We hope that other private establishments can adopt similar projects for the efficient use of our water resources.” The RTF utilizes a meticulous six-step treatment process, with equipment monitored and parameters checked in real time to ensure optimal performance. The processed water undergoes regular testing by the city’s accredited testing facility and consistently passes all water potability standards. “This facility is a testament to SM Prime Holdings’ commitment to sustainable operations and to the well-being of the communities we serve,” said Engr. Liza Silerio, SM Supermalls’ Vice President and Sustainability and Resilience Head. “By maximizing rainwater harvesting and treatment, we are not only reducing our reliance on the city’s water supply but also contributing to a healthier and more resilient Baguio City.” The impact of the RTF extends beyond the mall itself. With reduced reliance on the city’s water supply, water haulers have been able to service more households, particularly during periods of water scarcity experienced throughout the city. SM City Baguio’s rainwater treatment facility stands as a shining example of how businesses can play a vital role in addressing critical community needs through innovative and sustainable solutions. SM Prime remains committed to its role as a catalyst for economic growth, delivering innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities, thereby enriching the quality of life of millions of people. SM Prime is pursuing the next horizon in integrated property development and onward to building sustainable cities of the future.              

BAGUIO CITY — The city government awarded the five outstanding citizens during the 115th Baguio Charter Anniversary celebration held at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center, Baguio City,on September 1. Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Congressman Mark Go, guest of honor US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson and city officials led the simple and meaningful celebration, at the same time giving awards to outstanding citizens selected by the Society of Outstanding Citizens of Baguio (SOCOB), led by Joel Arthur Tibaldo. The awardees are Dr. Jimmy Billod, as the sole full-time Gynecologic Oncologist of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center. Billod has always been energetic and enthusiastic in the care of women diagnosed with gynecologic cancer. Through his diligence, the BGHMC Z-package for cervical cancer was approved in 2017 and recently re-accredited by the National Insurance Company providing free and adequate diagnosis and treatment for women with the disease. Arnel Cabanisas, a distinguished 20-year military career, nine years of which he spent excelling in diverse roles at the Philippine Military Academy. He retired  in 2012 where he then took an active role at the ZigZag Base Communications and Rescue Group and DELTANS volunteer group where he became National President and later as Chapter President. He was also President of the Rotary Club of Baguio from 2021 to 2022. Maricar Docyogen, believes in the power of art and literacy by establishing Bookends, a renowned hub for literature, fostering a vibrant literary community. She is also the founder and leads the Pasa-kalye Group of Artists that provides emerging artists with opportunities and platforms to flourish thereby enriching Baguio’s art scene. She is a community leader actively supporting various community programs, collaborating with government agencies and organizations, demonstrating her commitment to Baguio’s overall progress. Engr. Fernando Laranang, founder of FCL Laranang Companies, one of the city’s most dependable and trusted construction companies, having built more than 80 industrial, commercial, institutional and religious buildings that have contributed immensely in improving the Summer Capital’s business climate, promoting a more vibrant tourism industry, a conducive educational center of the North and creating more investment opportunities for residents and non-residents of Baguio, retirees and overseas workers. He has spearheaded the ‘Green Engineering Movement’ , conscious of the importance of Earth’s preservation and conservation of the environment. Dr. Mary Arsenia Ngao-si Mondiguing, a true-blue Cordilleran with humble beginnings, Dr. Mondiguing is the Section Chief for Cataract and Refractive Services of the Department of Ophthalmology and Vice-Chair of the Research Ethics Committee of the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center. An active academician for 20 years, she is currently chairs Saint Louis University School of Medicine’s Department Ophthalmology; a faculty of the Pines City Colleges’ College of Medicine and section head of Ophthalmology of the Pines City Doctors Hospital. As a renowned eye specialist, Dr. Ars’ main advocacy is on the prevention of blindness as she supported the Vision 2020 program or the “Right to Sight”, a global initiative launched by the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.            

BAGUIO CITY –The City Schools Division Office here received on Tuesday San Miguel Corporation’s (SMC) donation for distribution to the different schools. Atty. Micaela Rosales, special projects manager of SMC turned over of 140 chairs, five teachers’ tables, and 242 gallons of paint at the Department of Education Division Office in Baguio City as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility. Rosales said the items came from the closed nursing school in Pampanga that the company recently acquired and are distributing the contents for use in public schools. Atty. Micaela Rosales, during the turn-over said ““we though what we brought is just for one school and it will not be enough for the 67 schools so we are giving our consent for the schools division to get whatever can still be used by our learners in the school we acquired.” SMC this year acquired a school property in  Bulacan which used to be a nursing school but stopped operation at the height of the pandemic and was sold to the company. Rosales said that the chairs they brought and donated came from the school but there are still a lot that can still be used like sound systems, television sets, tables, and others. “Please visit the place, look for items that are still useful for the children so that they are not wasted and just destroyed being there,” Rosales announced during a message as part of the turn-over. She also said that they will add some more cash for the paints they turned over which they learned is not sufficient for the 67 schools. “Since it was a nursing school, there are equipment, apparatus that are still useful, kasi nursing yan, baka may microscope na pwede pa (because that is a nursing [school], they might have microscopes that can still be used), board, which can still be used in schools and other useful materials na pwede natin ma-kuha (that we can get),” said Dr. Soraya Faculo, acting Schools Division Superintendent of Baguio on the sidelines of the turn-over. “Ang mga upuan na ibinigay nila magagandang klase at malalapad, comfortable na upuan ng mga bata saka may lagayan ng gamit sa ilalalim kaya magiging comfortable ang mga batang gagamit (the chairs they gave are of good quality and they are big, comfortable for children to sit-on plus an area under the chair where the learners can place their belongings),” Faculo added. She said that they have also earlier partnered with SMC for the “Tamang Asal sa Kalsada” values formation program training of teachers in Baguio. Mayor Benjamin Magalong that in 2022, SMC also donated 200 chairs to the Baguio school’s division. San Miguel Corporation also recently turned over a school building in Calatagan, Batangas which was completed as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility of the company.  

  BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio Tourism Council (BTC) stands in solidarity with the city and its residents as Baguio celebrates its 115th year as a chartered city. “We share in the pride of Baguio’s noble achievements, accomplished through the dedication of successive leaders from 1909 to 2024,” stated Gladys Vergara, chairperson of the Baguio Tourism Council. Vergara joined city officials, including Mayor Benjie Magalong, Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, city councilors, department and division heads, and barangay officials, in commemorating Baguio Day. The celebration was marked by a series of events. The highlight was the awarding of the 2022 Outstanding Citizens of Baguio. Other events included early morning fishing competitions at Burnham Park, the official program at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center, a multi-sectoral community parade along Session Road to Melvin Jones at Burnham Park, the Baguio Country Fair, and the Sunday showcase at Session Road, among others. “This is the story of Baguio—one that we have all written together as a unified community,” Vergara remarked, highlighting the resilient spirit that binds Baguio’s residents into a strong, cohesive family. The BTC, a public-private partnership of stakeholders, is dedicated to advancing tourism for the benefit of the entire city. “We are committed to opening new tourism frontiers, spreading the benefits of development, and ensuring that the anticipated economic growth and social cohesion from intensified tourism activities are shared equitably,” Vergara emphasized. She also commended the planning and execution of Baguio Day events, attributing their success to the robust multi-sectoral collaboration.          

   BAGUIO CITY – Habang papalapit ang kapaskuhan ay patuloy na pinaghahandaan ng Baguio Tourism Council sa pangunguna ni Chairman Gladys Vergara sa pamamagitan ng makikipagpulong sa mga stakeholders at iba’t ibang organisasyon upang maging parte ng “An Enchanting Baguio Christmas” (AEBC) festivities. Nakipagpulong kamakailan si Vergara sa mga Zumba instructor mula sa iba’t ibang grupo sa Burnham Park para pag-usapan at kumpirmahin ang kanilang partisipasyon sa nalalapit na paglulunsad ng taunang “An Enchanting Baguio Christmas” festivities. Nakatuon ang pulong sa pagpaplano ng mga aktibidad ng Zumba team, kabilang ang isang engrandeng Zumba meet, na iminumungkahing maganap sa Burnham Park Rose Garden sa Nobyembre 29, 2024. Kabilang sa mga dumalo ang mga Zumba instructor na sina Myra Mora, Jojie Torio, Arman Lapastora, Bernardo Sapico, Juvy Labsan, Joseph Baniaga Jr., Rommel Gubangco, Ceasar Damasco, Marvin Tulliong, at Angelica Chamos. Ang kanilang paglahok ay magdaragdag ng sigla at enerhiya sa mga kaganapan sa AEBC, na minarkahan ang simula ng kapaskuhan ng lungsod. Ang Zumba, isang sikat na paraan ng ehersisyo na pinagsasama ang sayaw at aerobic na paggalaw, ay nag-aalok ng maraming benepisyo sa kalusugan, kabilang ang pinahusay na cardiovascular fitness, tumaas na antas ng enerhiya, at pinahusay na mental na kagalingan. Kinikilala ng BTC ang kahalagahan ng pagtataguyod ng kalusugan at fitness sa loob ng komunidad at ganap na sinusuportahan ang mga hakbangin na naghihikayat sa mga residente at bisita na pamunuan ang aktibo, malusog na pamumuhay. Ipinahayag ni Vergara ang kanyang taos-pusong pasasalamat sa mga Zumba group para sa kanilang sigasig at pangako na gawing hindi malilimutang selebrasyon ang “An Enchanting Baguio Christmas” sa pamamagitan ng pagkilala sa kanilang mahalagang papel sa pagkamit ng tagumpay ng pagdiriwang ng Yuletide ng lungsod.      

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), FujiClean Co., Ltd. (FujiClean), and the City Government of Baguio, led by Mayor Benjie Magalong, through the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO), entered a Proof of Concept (POC) arrangement and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to address the growing demand for developing sewer infrastructure. JICA will supervise the overall activities, and the city government of Baguio will cooperate with FujiClean to ensure the successful implementation of the Survey throughout the implementation period. The objective of the discussion is to identify challenges to complying with the standards set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the use of the FujiClean System. The system consists of a fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) tank, supplemental chemicals, and air blowers based on biofilm to effectively remove organics and nitrogen from the wastewater from toilets. The POC will be implemented under SDG’s Business Verification Survey framework as part of JICA’s public-private partnership programs to demonstrate Japanese-developed technologies that respond effectively to specific development challenges. FujiClean will implement a demonstration of the decentralized wastewater treatment system in the Survey at the City Engineering Office (CEO) of Baguio; currently, wastewater produced by the CEO is primarily treated by septic tanks. The Survey will demonstrate that FujiClean products, technology, know-how, and business model have the performance to achieve the DENR Administrative Orders on the standards for Class “A” water body classification and will create a solution to effectively develop sewer infrastructure by combining Centralized treatment plant system and FujiClean Decentralized Treatment system. As part of the POC, FujiClean will Install the decentralized wastewater treatment system with the application of an Environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, Clear Marcos Highway Watershed Forest Reserve Protected Area, Demonstrate the treatment performance to comply with the DENR standards, Conduct a seminar to raise awareness of FujiClean products; evaluate the impact of FujiClean products in terms of environment and economy; conduct training to local offices for proper operation of FujiClean products, conduct treated water quality tests, chemical supply and replacement parts for air blowers, and warranty for accessories and FRP tank. As a partner in the POC, LGU Baguio will provide support as needed by appointing city personnel, securing areas for installation and demonstration, securing a location to store chemicals, offering topographical data to the Survey, ensuring the FujiClean products, technique, and knowledge will not be used for military purposes. JICA Guidelines for Environmental and Societal Considerations shall be applied to ensure appropriate considerations for the environmental and social impacts in the Survey. After the product is installed and commissioning is completed, FujiClean will carry out a 1-year verification of its product performance to ensure that it operates appropriately within the Survey period. After the verification, LGU Baguio will conduct proper and effective product operation and maintenance. The product will be handed over and transferred to LGU Baguio after the end of the POC. The demonstration of the decentralized wastewater treatment system shows commitment from the LGU Baguio to improving the waterbody quality and raising awareness of sanitation improvement Photo by: Ezer Owindo

Baguio welcomed home its shining star today—Miss World Philippines 2024, Krishnah Marie Gravidez. The homecoming parade along Session Road was a heartfelt celebration, filled with cheers and applause from the community that watched her rise to the crown. Krishnah’s journey to becoming Miss World Philippines has been an inspiring one. With each step she took on that stage, she carried the pride of Baguio with her. Her grace, intelligence, and dedication were evident, and she brought home not just a title, but a sense of pride for every Baguio resident. Today, as she made her way down Session Road, it wasn’t just about celebrating her win—it was about celebrating the values she represents. Krishnah embodies the spirit of Baguio: strong, resilient, and full of heart. She’s shown us all what it means to persevere and to pursue your dreams with everything you’ve got. To Krishnah, we say thank you. Thank you for representing Baguio with such excellence. Thank you for bringing the Miss World Philippines crown home. The city is proud to call you our own. Welcome back, Krishnah Marie Gravidez—you’ve made us all incredibly proud. ( From the Baguio Tourism Council) 📷 Ariel Biala