Baguio grateful to Vallejo for confirmation of sisterhood ties

City officials recently expressed gratefulness to the City Mayor, City Council, Baguio Californians, Inc., and the Philippine-American community of Vallejo City, California for the confirmation, greetings and warm welcome to the Mayor, Vice Mayor, city officials and delegates of Baguio on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the sisterhood relationship between the two cities.

In a resolution authored by Councilor Fred Bagbagen, local legislators stated that in the commemoration of the auspicious occasion, both cities will have some opportunities at a roundtable discussion to talk about plans and programs that will further enrich the sister city relationship between Baguio and Vallejo in California, United States of America.

Earlier, members of Vallejo’s active Philippine-American community began formal request for the formation of a sister city relationship with Baguio as early as 1989. The idea was presented to the Sister City Commission by Dinah Villanueva and over a period of several years, under the chairing of Raymond Bell, Lynn Teifert, and Joel Harter, commissioners worked to select an appropriate city and develop the needed support from its leaders and citizens.

Further, Eduardo Yra was among the many locals that suggested Baguio City which was familiar to many locals who know the area from visits while serving in the military.

On April 18, 1990, former Mayor Jaime Bugnosen and the City Council authorized negotiations with their counterparts in Vallejo City. Those negotiations stalled shortly thereafter when on July 16, 1990, an earthquake struck Baguio and local officials turned their attention to recovery efforts.

In its regular session held on February 10, 1993, the Baguio City council approved Resolution No. 096, series of 1993 that conveyed the interest and willingness of the city to enter into a sister city relationship with Vallejo City, California.

Adopted by the Vallejo City council through Resolution No. 93-250 N.C. resolving to approve and accept the establishment of a formal sister city affiliation with Baguio City.

The Baguio City council then passed Resolution NO. 625, series of 1993 that expressed appreciation and gratitude to the Vallejo City Mayor and City Council for approving and accepting the establishment of a formal sister city affiliation with Baguio.

Lately, the local government informed Vallejo City Mayor Robert H. McConnel of the intended visit of Baguio City officials and delegates and that the same was acknowledged by the latter stating among others that the visit will coincide with the 30th anniversary of the sister city relationship. Vallejo City officials are expecting their Baguio City counterparts to attend the 30th anniversary of the sister city relationship by the third week of September. – Dexter A. See