Baguio gift-giving tradition won’t fade after 40 years

Former Councilor Narciso Padilla, wearing a Santa Claus suit, brings joy to Christmas baby Dines Basconcillo Jr. on Dec. 26. Padilla helped found the Silahis ng Pasko program, which turned 40 years old in 2013. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Wearing a worn-out Santa Claus outfit, former Councilor Narciso Padilla handed out lollipops to street kids on Christmas Day before he proceeded alone to the closest hospital to visit newborn babies.

It’s a ritual that Padilla, 82, has been following for 40 years as part of Silahis ng Pasko (SNP), the annual gift-giving project he helped start in 1973.

The project was conceived as a tourism program for Filipinos returning from abroad and who were chosen as the “Lucky Balikbayan.” Those honored were treated to gifts, cultural presentations and accommodation in and a tour of the summer capital, which was then being promoted as the country’s top tourist destination.

Padilla, then city tourism director, said the program used to feature a “singing” Christmas tree, which showcased choral groups singing carols around a 30-foot high Christmas tree at Burnham Park here.

It was in 1986 when the program included the “Baguio Lucky Christmas Day Baby” and “Baguio Lucky New Year Baby.”

“The message of Silahis (Filipino for a beam of light or sun ray) is to radiate the spirit of the season, which is built on love, hope and prayer, that is achieved by caring and sharing. For us Filipinos, we always call it bayanihan (cooperation),” Padilla said.

Padilla, executive director of SNP, said the project strengthened community spirit through volunteerism and charity.

“A person can be happy if he shares his happiness to make other people happier; that’s what helps me going. I do this through volunteerism. This has always been my vow,” he said.

This year, Dines Christian Basconcillo Jr. was chosen as the Baguio Lucky Christmas Day Baby. He was born at 3:40 a.m. at Baguio General Hospital and Medical Hospital Center (BGHMC).

Sherlyn, 32, mother of Basconcillo, received P3,000, baby clothes, a sack of rice, fruits and other food items.

“I feel so happy. I hope that my baby will grow [up] kind and show care for others,” said Sherlyn.

Dines, Sherlyn’s second child, was the 28th baby chosen in the Christmas search, Padilla said.

Doctors at BGHMC helped deliver two babies on December 25. Aside from Basconcillo, Karina Chanelle Damasco was also born on Christmas morning.

“Newborn babies are symbols of hope; they are blessings. They give us hope, especially during times of trials, like what happened after [Supertyphoon “Yolanda”] struck the country,” said Elena Damasco, the baby’s grandmother.

The SNP started its 40th anniversary program early this month with “Operation de Lata,” with the help of the Philippine Military Academy that gathered 1,300 canned goods as part of relief efforts for storm victims in the Visayas.

The University of Baguio (UB) also helped raise funds for storm victims by hosting the last quarter meeting of the Junior Chamber International Senate of Southeast Asia and in its farewell meeting, the gathering became an impromptu fund-raising activity for its officials.

Former Mayor Peter Rey Bautista, whose clan owns UB, said at least 30 officials from Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia attended the activity.

“It was supposed to be a farewell meeting until one of them brought out a book about [former Singaporean Prime Minister] Lee Kuan Yew and offered it for bidding for P5,000 for Yolanda victims. We told him not to worry about the book [and that UB] will buy it for P10,000,” he said.

“After that, other delegates followed suit. There were those who took out money from their pockets in various currencies. We were able to raise P180,000 in that event alone,” he added.