00:00How odd or ironic that in the City of Pines, there hasn't been a Christmas tree lighting event in the President's official summer hideaway for over a hundred years.
00:09And so the First Lady, realizing it is better late than never, sought to turn things around by reviving a century-long tradition in the Mansion House.
00:17Our Mary Vel Custodia sums up in this feature story.
00:23First Lady Luis Araneta Marcos breaks the Christmas tree lighting in the Baguio Mansion House.
00:28Local citizens had the opportunity to take a photo with the First Lady during the event.
00:33It is the first time Baguio Mansion House will open to the public since 1908.
00:39You know, this is a very good gesture on the part of our President and First Lady because it took us some time to really open this to the public.
00:51You know, there have been a lot of administrations and this was not opened to the public.
00:56And it is a joy now because you see, when they opened this early this year, a lot of people are excited, not only the people of Baguio
01:05but our visitors as well.
01:08The 9-meter-tall Christmas tree is designed with 38 stunning native Christmas tree lanterns or paroles.
01:15In partnership with the Department of Education, a nationwide parole-making competition was launched and 158 entries from high school students have been submitted.
01:25The rest of the entries are on exhibit in the Malacanang Palace.
01:29Winners of the parole-making competition will be announced on Sunday.
01:32Deputy Secretary Sani Angkara, former DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos, and other local officials were also present in the Christmas tree lighting.
01:41University of Baguio Voices Choral and Philippine Military Academy marching band performances hyped the crowd.
01:48This is my first time here in the mansion.
01:51And this Christmas, it is super amazing because the mansion was lit up with the Christmas tree.
01:59My family, my husband and my two children.
02:03We are happy that the mansion is open to the public.
02:08Actually, my daughter is one of the people here.
02:13It's open to the public?
02:15Yes, open to the public.
02:16The doors will be extended to be open until 8 o'clock every day from now on until New Year's Day.
02:23We would like to invite you to come here in the Baguio Mansion House.
02:28Come celebrate Christmas with us.
02:30And let's all have fun for the new Philippines.
02:35So, Happy Christmas to all of you.
02:39A dazzling fireworks display concluded the event.
02:42The Baguio Mansion is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
02:47Vel Custodio, from the National TV Network, for a new and better Philippines.
