BAGUIO CITY – The local government and the Royal Embassy of Thailand launched the recently-completed five life-size elephants that were erected within the Botanical Garden to help provide added attractions in one of the major parks of the city.
The turnover of the newly-crafted elephants was spearheaded by city officials and foreign dignitaries of the Royal Embassy of Thailand at the area where they were erected before the formal presentation of the program at the Baguio Country Club.
Thailand Ambassador to the Philippines His Excellency Thanatip Upatasing, Siam Cement Group (SCG) Country Director Surasak Kraiwitchauchareon, and Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan will lead the inauguration rites of the elephants within the designated portion of the Botanical Garden.
The construction of the life-size Thai elephants was done by the Royal Embassy of Thailand in cooperation with the Siam Cement Group, the leading ASEAN conglomerate advocating for sustainability that creates and distributes innovative products and services that respond to the current and future needs of the consumers.
Mayor Domogan expressed his gratitude to the officials of the Royal Embassy of Thailand and SCG for making the put up of the life-size elephants a reality in the city. The structures will definitely entice more foreign and domestic visitors to consider the Botanical Garden one of their must-see areas in the city, especially since the Yuletide season is underway and people flock to the city to escape from the extreme heat of the lowlands.
“We commend the officials of the Royal Embassy of Thailand for fulfilling its commitment to construct the life-size elephants in the Botanical Garden because it will definitely contribute in sustaining the robust growth of the city’s tourism industry and more importantly strengthen our sisterhood ties which could last for centuries,” Domogan stressed.
Councilor Elmer O. Datuin, Chairman of the City Council Committee on Tourism, Parks, Playgrounds and Special Events, claimed the construction of the life-size elephants is the commitment of the Royal Embassy of Thailand in providing residents and visitors in the city the opportunity to appreciate the existence of the elephants in one of the city’s mayor parks and contribute to boosting tourist arrivals in the city, especially that the major crowd-drawing events in the city are lined up in the coming months.
The construction of the elephants in the Botanical Garden started more than a month ago. It will be opened in time for the influx of foreign and domestic visitors to the city during the Yuletide season, and serves as added attractions to visit while spending their break in the country’s undisputed Summer Capital.
Local officials will be exploring other ways by which to further enhance the relationship between Baguio City and Thailand to be able to significantly increase the number of Thai tourists visiting the city and for local residents to visit the key tourist destinations in Thailand.
By Dexter A. See
