Monday Flag Raising Ceremony and BCPO-TEU Orientation

Early in the twenty-first century, the Philippines and China established a comprehensive, strategic, and cooperative alliance based on shared values and objectives with the primary goal of a two-way system of trade of goods and others. It was the first Monday of our Station Immersion and part of it is to attend the traditional Monday Flag Raising Ceremony. The event was held at Baguio City Hall ground participated by the different personnel of City Hall and other Government Offices and organizations. During the ceremony, it was also the opening of the Spring Festival or the Chinese New Year and it is a celebration of the end and beginning of the year based on the Lunar Calendar. The event was mostly participated by Filipino-Chinese Community also celebrating their 25th year of strong and responsive partnership with the Baguio City government.

Honorable Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Honorable Sol Go (wife of Congressman Mark Go) highlighted their speech on the contributions and support of the Filipino-Chinese Community during the start of the pandemic. Likewise, they stressed how important the ties built between the Filipino and Chinese Communities. In the current setting, there is a positive and constructive relationship between the two parties focusing on enhancing programs and campaigns for the improvement of the living condition of the people in the City of Pines. Thereafter, the program ended up having free Tikoy for everyone from the kind-hearted and generous Filipino-Chinese Community.

Truly, we must nourish the relationship of one community with another in order to have more resources and strong connections because building and sustaining relationships are at the heart of organizing communities.[1]"The assimilation and blending of the two unique cultures through the annual celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year will definitely promote unity, peace, and prosperity for all the people living in the city." Ng(2023). To add, the strength of a community lies in the strength of the connections that every community has. With strong connections, leaders have the power to make real change. Although building these connections takes time, it is worth it in the end.

After the ceremony, the 12 PNPA Cadets assigned at BCPO for their Station Immersion were grouped into three having four members in each group. My group was deployed at the Traffic Enforcement Unit of Baguio. After the briefing at BCPO Multi-Purpose Hall, PLTCOL ZACARIAS CALOY DAUSEN, C, TEU conveyed us to his office located at Upper Session Road, Baguio City. In there, he discussed to us the main function, duties and responsibilities of TEU in the City. Being one of the busiest offices, it was a challenge for him to control and supervise over 100 personnel under his unit. Also, he emphasized to us that it is his liability to ensure the smooth vehicular and pedestrian flow in the Central Business District Area. Likewise, he reminded us that in incidents involving traffic accidents, it is taboo for a Police Officer to directly settle the parties of victim and perpetrator. Police Officers are there to assist and help them with their documentary necessities.

After the talk, PCPT BASINGA, Deputy Chief, TEU toured and oriented us on the major function of Beat Traffic Enforcers deployed at major rotonda and roads inside the area of Central Business District. After the tour, we had our coffee break to warm our bodies against the cold weather. Lastly, we ended our first day in TEU with a hunger for knowledge in terms of traffic management.

Reference:

1. C., C. R. (2023, January 20). Baguio Fil-chinese community gives away bags of groceries to indigents. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved January 16, 2023, from https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/20/baguio-fil-chinese-community-gives-away-bags-of-groceries-to-indigents/