Celso shares Zambo’s best practices to Baguio
Mayor Celso Lobregat and Councilors Nonong Guingona, Charlie Mariano, Luis Biel III, Rudy Lim, Joe fel de las Penas and Rey Candido pose with Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. (3rd from right), as they renew Zamboanga-Baguio sister city ties signed 13 years ago during the Baguio Centennial Sisterhood City Summit in Baguio City August 31. (JOEY BAUTISTA)
Baguio City—Mayor Celso Lobregat on Monday rolled out to the national and international community, Zamboanga’s best practices in sister city relationships and at the same time encouraged people from different parts of the world to visit and explore Zamboanga, now billed as Asia’s Latin City.
Zamboanga City was one of the 18 cities from all over the country and some parts of the world that participated in the Baguio Centennial Sisterhood and Twinning Summit held in Baguio City from August 30-September 2. The city is a sister city of Baguio based on an agreement forged on November 23, 1996 by then Mayor and now Cong. Mauricio Domogan of Baguio and the late Mayor Vitaliano Agan of Zamboanga.
“Today’s occasion marks a re-affirmation of a 13-year old sister city understanding between our very own Zamboanga and Baguio,” Lobregat said prior to his presentation.
The mayor’s presentation centered on the topic “Forging bridges between cultures” through sisterhood relationships. It talked about the city’s rich and colorful history and culture and cited the “Acuerdo de Hermanamiento” or twin city agreement with Zaragozza, Spain that revived historical and cultural ties dating back to four hundred years ago.
One of the concrete outputs of the Zamboanga-Zaragozza twinning agreement is the successful forging of an accord between the Western Mindanao State University and the Instituto Cervantes de Manila, a worldwide non-profit organization, last April 22.
The hermanamiento envisoned to provide Zamboanga a new horizon for opportunities and exchanges in salient fields such as tourism, business, education, arts and culture and sports; enhance Zamboanga’s promotion and marketing strategy as Asia’s Latin City and laid the groundwork for Spanish and European acquaintance and interest in the city and providing insights for the directions and priorities of the city marketing objectives.
Other cities that shared their best practices during the Summit included Guam; China; Japan; South Korea; Vallejo, California, USA and Canada—foreign cities that established sister relations with Baguio and the domestic sister cities like Alaminos, Pangasinan; Bacolod; Calbayog; Daet in Camerines Norte; Davao; municipality of Paculao of the Province of Aurora; Lucena City; Mandaue City, Cebu; Munoz City; Ormoc City and Ilo-ilo City.
A highlight in the Summit was the signing of the Sister City declaration where all sister cities pledged “efforts and dedication as Sister Cities to promulgate such acts of international amity for mutual development”.
The sister cities also vowed to share best practices on different aspects such as strengthening sister city ties; tourism development; community partnership and government systems development.
The Sisterhood Twinning Summit was part of the centennial celebration of Baguio and was capped by the Centennial Parade and program and the inauguration of the sister city Gardens at the Baguio Botanical Garden.
Lobregat headed the Zamboanga delegation in signing the declaration together with Councilors Rey Candido, Rudy Lim, Nonong Guingona, Charlie Mariano, Joefel de las Penas and Luis Biel III.
“We are very proud that Baguio City and Zamboanga City come together again to renew ties and alliances,” Mayor Lobregat emphasized.
The 3-day activity was sponsored by the Baguio City government headed by Mayor Reinerio Bautista Jr. and the Philippines International Sister Twinning Agreement (PHISTA). (Sheila Covarrubias)