BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved the request of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) for a month-long Christmas bazaar from December 1, 2016, to January 1, 2017, to generate funds for the expenses to be incurred during the visit of some 24 beauty contestants of the Miss Universe beauty pageant to our city on January 18, 2016.
The grant of the request of the HRAB to hold the Christmas fair at the Melvin Jones grandstand was anchored on the fact that the City Government is one of the co-sponsors of the 24-hour visit of the Miss Universe contestants to the city, a once-in-a-lifetime event and that the funds generated bazaar will be used for the said visit as the local government will no longer shell out funds for the hosting of the beauty contestants.
However, HRAB will still be required to submit a detailed project proposal to the local government for this bazaar, guarantee the cleanliness and orderliness within the football grounds during the duration of the event, the theme of the bazaar should be Christmas in time for the celebration of the Yuletide season, restore the damaged portions of the football grounds after the bazaar, submit a financial report after the event and guarantee that the funds to be generated will be used for the hosting of the Miss Universe contestants to the city.
Andrew Pinero, the HRAB media officer, reported organizers will be submitting to the local government the design of the stalls, the program of activities, the layout of the stalls, among others, for the review of local officials.
Last Monday, Anthony de Leon, HRAB president, and Ramon Cabrerra, HRAB treasurer, were in Manila to sign the contract for the planned visit coupled with the initial payment of P7 million as downpayment for the required fees to the Miss Universe organizers.
Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan endorsed the request of HRAB to the local legislative body for approval considering the urgency of the matter that must be acted upon as time is quite too close and for the local government to have a stake in the visit of the Miss Universe contestants to the city.
The council unanimously voted in favour of the request of the Mayor allowing the HRAB to conduct the Christmas bazaar.
The council expressed confidence that the locals will understand that the council approved this HRAB Christmas bazaar as the city’s contribution to the visit of the Miss Universe contestants without spending public funds.
By Dexter A. See
