First lady Liza Araneta Marcos steered clear of the political drama in Manila by motoring up the cool summer capital to switch on the Christmas Tree at the presidential mansion on Thursday (Nov 27).
Marcos has been undertaking this annual Yuletide chore after converting the century-old Mansion into a museum in 2024. The Mansion was put up in 1908, a year before the American colonial government opened Baguio as a chartered city. The lightning ceremony was preceded by the visit of about a hundred grade school children enrolled in schools at Barangay Lualhati who were treated to parlor games and gifts and performances by the University of Baguio chorale and the Philippine Military Academy band which was joined by baton-twirling majorettes.
Then Mrs Marcos mingled with the children to watch the lighting of the tree, followed by colorful fireworks. She was joined here by freguent Baguio visitor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a former president and Pampanga representative. Also spotted in the crowd were Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Baguio Rep Mauricio Domogan.