The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on third and final reading a proposed ordinance institutionalizing the conduct of the Baguio Volkswagen Appreciation Week in the city every first week of December and providing guidelines for the said purpose.
Under the proposed ordinance authored by Vice Mayor Faustino A. Olowan and Councilor Lilia Farinas, the highlights of the activity will be conducted for two days only, preferably the Saturday and Sunday or the end of the Baguio Volkswagen Appreciation Week.
The ordinance designated Session road or an area within Burnham Park as the central location of the Baguio Volkswagen Appreciation Week activities for this year and every year thereafter, provided that there is prior coordination and approval from the City Administrator’s Office–Tourism, Culture and Arts Division.
Further, only wholesome and family-oriented activities are allowed during the said activity such as, but not limited to car shows and displays, swap meets, motorcades, picnics, sale of Volkswagen-related merchandise, Volkswagen-related memorabilia, and Volkswagen-related souvenirs.
The ordinance stipulated that Volkswagens that are joining the car show, car display or motorcade are exempted from the implementation of the Baguio number coding scheme, provided that, there is prior approval from the City Administrator’s Office–Tourism, Culture and Arts Division in coordination with the Baguio City Police Office.
The proponents explained that conscious of the many positive contributions of the Volkswagen Club of Baguio to the motoring community and the city, there is a need to commend the group for their dependability and selfish contribution.
The Volkswagen Club of Baguio, like the dependable and agile Beetle, has consistently exhibited dedication to the city by providing free services to the city during activities, events and celebrations such as the various crowd drawing events.
The ordinance claimed that the Volkswagen brand renowned for its iconic Beetle model holds the distinction of being the best-selling car of all times and enjoys global recognition in the motoring community.
Moreover, the enduring popularity of the Volkswagen Beetle can be attributed to its straightforward, cost effective maintenance, and instantly recognizable design, endearing it to generations of enthusiasts.
The ordinance added that the practicality and hill climbing prowess of the Beetle endeared it to the residents of the city making it a cherished part of the city’s motoring heritage.
In 1998, the Volkswagen Club of Baguio, a proud chapter of the Volkswagen Club of the Philippines, was established to unite Volkswagen owners and aficionados from the city and its neighboring areas. The foundation of the Volkswagen Club of Baguio was guided by principles of camaraderie, passion for Volkswagen vehicles, and the promotion of wholesome and family-oriented activities.
In December 2016, the Volkswagen Club of Baguio was entrusted by its mother organization to host the Annual Philippine Volkswagen Show in the city and was dubbed as the 1st Grand Volks Canao which served as a landmark event since it was the first time that the Philippine Volkswagen Show was held outside Quezon City in its 31 years of existence and was attended by a multitude of participants and car enthusiasts coming from across the country. By Dexter A. See