MikeLigalig.com

BAGUIO CITY -- Children garbed in Christmas-inspired costumes crowded the city’s central business district early Friday to mark the official start of Christmas in Baguio City.

Around 5,000 pupils from the different day care centers in the city joined this Friday morning’s Mardi Gras parade along Session Road, joined by their parents and guardians who also came in colorful Christmas costumes.

The "Silahis ng Pasko” Mardi Gras is one of the special attractions during to kick off the various activities for Christmas in Baguio City.

The participants' costumes carried designs such as the Nativity Scene and Santa Claus. Small children came dressed as wrapped gifts with ribbons on their head. There were also those who came as Christmas tree, Santa’s reindeer and other holiday season characters.

The Christmas Mardi Gras, now on its 44th year, is an annual event organized by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) spearheaded by the father of "Silahis ng Pasko" organizer, veteran newsman and former city councilor Narciso Padilla.

Padilla said the opening rites this morning was marked by a ceremonial pot breaking by Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Rep. Mark Go and city social welfare development officer Betty Fangasan.

The program will also feature a cultural show top-billed by the winners of the children’s pageant and talent shows conducted by the social welfare office.

Other activities will also feature the inauguration of the giant art installation by Tinatik artist Maela Liwanag Jose at the rotunda of Upper Session Road at 3 p.m. along with the Christmas concert featuring local talents and other activities along Session Road, the ceremonial lighting of the giant Christmas tree at the Rose Garden, Burnham Park at 5:30 p.m., and the crowd-drawing lantern parade of St. Louis University at 6 p.m. which will be followed by a 10-minute fireworks display.

The whole stretch of Session Road was closed to vehicular traffic starting midnight of November 30 to midnight of December 1 to give way to all the activities and allow the residents to feel the season’s joy.

Last November 29, the city lighted the Christmas village at the People's Park featuring different colored lights forming various shapes and opened it to the public. Christmas carols started to be played in the village and will continue until after the holidays. (PNA)

DECEMBER 2017

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