LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Every summer, La Trinidad is one of the go-to destinations for tourists and residents because of its famed Strawberry Farm, where strawberry-picking, a dream for most, is offered as an activity. The Celestino Family had a grasp of the strawberry-picking experience on their third day, April 19, of their stay as lucky summer visitors in Baguio-Benguet.
To what seemed like a normal holiday vacation for the Celestino Family, a sudden twist of fate struck their journey as luck knocked on their bus. Still hovering between shock and doubt, the only sentiment they evinced was mere excitement for what awaited their vacation. The family of seven was chosen as this year’s Lucky Summer Visitors (LVN) by the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) on April 17 at Flying V Gas Station, Pugo, La Union.
Ricardo and Carolyn Celestino were planning to celebrate their 34th Wedding Anniversary with the family in Baguio City, and little did they know, a shower of blessings was poured on their first voyage to the city when their bus was halted.
During their 4-day vacation in Baguio-Benguet, the Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, Benguet was lined up as one of the tourist destinations they visited.
Carolyn Celestino, a 57-year-old, was particularly grateful because her dream to pick strawberries by hand was finally within her reach. Among the different, fun-filled activities in tourist destinations they visited around Baguio and Benguet, strawberry-picking was evidently her favorite.
Mrs. Celestino expressed her gratitude as she was overjoyed to experience strawberry picking. “Yung pangarap kong mamitas ng strawberry, after 56 years ngayon na natupad,” she said.
With every snap of a stem, she made sure her basket overflowed with a bountiful harvest of strawberries. “Natupad na rin ‘yung pangarap ko na mamitas, kumain, napuno ko ‘yung basket,” Carolyn expressed.
Her granddaughter, Eunice, narrated how she was too immersed in filling her basket with strawberries that she dumped her right leg into the canal while being filmed. “Yung gustong-gusto ko talagang ma-experience dun pa talaga na-ano ‘yung sapatos ko. Mas gustong-gusto kong moment po kasi ‘yung makapagpitas po,” Eunice shared.
Together with their two grandchildren, Eunice and Eugin Celestino, as well as their children, Julia Celestino, and Jerome Celestino with his girlfriend, Jellyn Bautista, they experienced a red-carpet treatment during their stay in Baguio-Benguet.
Escorted by the local police, the heavy traffic didn’t slow their travel down as they toured around the city and Benguet. They were offered to stay at Hotel Supreme, Baguio City.
The lucky summer visitors program is an annual activity initiated by the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC), which aims to promote tourism in Baguio-Benguet, particularly taking place during the Holy Week. By Lyka Capsula
