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.
