Baguio City’s missed calendar of summer vacation activities is back via the “#Baguio Summerfeels SUMVAC 2022.”
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said this is to sustain the city’s momentum in transitioning to the new normal after more than two years of hiatus due to the pandemic.
The city had good gains when it resumed public staging of the Baguio Flower Festival last March after earning an eased off quarantine status.
City Tourism Officer Aloysius Mapalo said the SUMVAC calendar is a mishmash of civic, spiritual, cultural, environmental, tourism and sports activities that will run from April to May.
A rundown of the activities follows:
I.Civic, spiritual and Holy Week activities:
- Mirador Eco-Spirituality Park’s MIRAR Vista & Prayer Stops — Experience Mirador not just as a sight and view to behold, but as a place of prayer and meditation for the whole summer (Entire April and May)
- Araw ng Kagitingan 2022 — A tribute ceremony, on its 80th year, to memorialize the ideals and heroic deeds of Filipino war veterans (April 9, 8:00 a.m., Veteran’s Park Harrison Road)
- Holy Week Catholic Eucharistic Celebrations*
*Palm Sunday Eucharistic Celebration (April 10, 9a.m., Lourdes Grotto; April 10, 11a.m., Baguio Cathedral)
*Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper (April 14, 5p.m., Baguio Cathedral)
*Good Friday Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, Procession & Veneration of Santo Entierro (April 15, starts at 3:30 p.m., Baguio Cathedral to Session Road, Harrison Road and back to Cathedral)
*Easter Sunday Mass (April 17, 9 a.m., Lourdes Grotto)
*Easter Sunday Salubong (April 17, 4:30 a.m., Baguio Cathedral Square)
Note: For complete schedule of Holy Week masses and services, please see the Church’s FB page or website.
- Death of the Forest — A 45-minute meditative walk- through different stations of Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary (April 14, at 8:30am., Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary)
- Baguio Easter Ecumenical Morning Service (April 17, 5AM, Malcolm Square)
- Baguio Liberation Day — Commemoration of the 77th liberation of Baguio by the US Army and the 66th Infantry from the Japanese forces (April 27, 8a.m., Veteran’s Park Harrison Road)
- Baguio Labor Day Job Fair — Employment facilitation for job seekers on a face to face application and interaction with employers and recruitment agencies (May 1, 8a.m., Baguio Convention Center)
- 2022 National Elections — It’s that time once again when the whole nation decides… go out and vote wisely! (May 9)
- National Flag Day — Commemoration of the day the national emblem was first unfurled after the Philippine Revolutionary Army defeated the Spanish forces in Cavite May 28, 8 a.m., Aguinaldo Park and Museum
- Activities on nature, culture and heritage:
- Onjon ni Ivadoy OTOP — Get a taste of Ibaloi local crafts, arts and farm and food products from the communities themselves in celebration of National Filipino Food Month (April 2 to May 7, Burnham Park, Ibaloy Heritage Garden)
- #BreatheNature #PreserveNature Horseback-Riding — Experience horseback riding at its best… immersed in the pine forests, enjoying the mountain views and contributing to the preservation of nature at Busol Watershed and Atok Trail (April and May, Wright Park and Atok Trail)
- BenCab@80 & London Punk Drawings — National Artist Benedicto Cabrera celebrates his 80th birthday with an exhibition of paintings and metal sculpture, with a special showcase of London’s punk culture of the 80’s through his own sketches and drawings (April 9 to June 5, BenCab Museum, Gallery Indigo and Sepia Gallery)
- Mangan Taku (Let’s Eat) 2022 — Cordilleran culinary celebration and showcase with the Dept. of Tourism- CAR in celebration of National Filipino Food Month (April 21-24, Wright Park)
- Transcendance: International Dance Day 2022 — The Ballet Baguio and Ballet La Trinidad, with special guests from Ballet Manila and HOME: A Company of Creatives, celebrates International Dance Day with special dance performances (May 1, 4p.m. and 6:30 p.m., SM City Baguio Sky Terrace)
- Session Road Heritage Festival – A new city festival celebrating the iconic Session Road as a heritage site of colonial America mixed with local Ibaloi culture (May 1, Gov. Pack Road to Session Road (Session Road pedestrianization every Sunday of April and May)
- Sabsabong ti Mayo — The annual floral sculpture showdown now made bigger highlighting the city’s distinction as the City of Flowers (May 12-22, Rose Garden Burnham Park)
- University of the Cordilleras “Cor de Mayo” — UC hosts a special commemoration of the National Heritage Month of May with a Cordilleran cultural festival, featuring exhibits, talks and shows (May 12-22, Rose Garden Burnham Park)
III. Sports and tourism:
- Huminga Baguio TikTok Challenge — Show your best moves with “Huminga Baguio” theme song showing Baguio summer scenes and win prizes! (April 13 to May 15)
- SUMVAC Motorist and Tourist Assistance — The annual Holy Week civic and community service by the different communications and volunteer groups in coordination with the Baguio City Police Office and City Administrator’s Office… just approach any of their tent/booths on the road for assistance (April 13-17)
- HOHO Tourist Bus Soft Launching — Leave your cars and go around the city’s premier tourist attractions with a FREE RIDE.. just show your QTP! (April 13 to 17)
- WOFEX World Food Expo — The region’s biggest food show is back… source, network and learn (April 19- 24, Baguio Convention Center)
- Easter Egg Hunt & Costume Play Fun
*Easter Hunt & Online Costume Wars (April 17, 10 a.m., Abanao Square Event Area)
*Summer Easter Costume Contest (April 17, SM City Baguio)
*Eggciting Easter Party (April 17, 3p.m., Grand Sierra Pines Hotel Garden)
- Baguio Summer Sports Fun
*SUMVAC Volleyball Men & Women Open Invitational League (May 3 to 5, Engineers Hill Covered Court, PFVR Gym and BCNHS Gym)
*Baguio Taekwondo Open Championship (May 7, Baguio Convention Center)
*Wushu-Taolu Baguio SUMVAC Meet (May 28-29, Baguio Athletic Bowl, Swimming Pool Area)
- Daily Night Market — Before your night cap, experience Baguio cool summer nights by having great bargains and unique local street food (Every Night from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., Harrison Road).