Baguio's 'snow show' now a no show

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  – Baguio’s much-talked about “snow show” will be a no-show after last weekend’s “soap suds” generated a lot of criticisms.

After an investigation was sought on the show that could have earned much-needed tourism boost for the vacation capital, the city’s tourism point-man, Councilor El­mer Datuin, chairman of the city council’s tourism committee, said they are temporarily calling off the snow show to introduce improvements after considering the criticisms.

Without specifying any date when the show will resume, Datuin said they have talked with the private contractor of the snow-making machines to make adjustments to meet the demand of the public for a real snow show.

“We asked them to make adjustments even in the chemicals used,” he said.

This, as he clarified that the city will not shell out a single centavo for the spectacle at the heels of controversies that P400,000 was earmarked for the flopped show.

With the more or less 50,000 people gathering at Session Road on Dec. 4, the first day of the “show” and Sunday nights’ “saving-face show” also faced the same boos as instead of ice flakes, seven snow-making machines were simply churning out floating soap suds.

Tourists coming from as far as nearby provinces were even more disappointed, some venting their ire at the networking site Facebook with jokes.

Aside from the foiled snow show, security and emergency preparednes, questions were hurled against organizers as many were victimized by pickpockets with a few, saying they lost their wallets, cellular phones and digital cameras while squeezing through the throng of the crowd.

All along, critics maintain their abberation against the show aimed to push the local tourism here.

“It is absurd,” journalist and Baguio resident Imelda Visaya-Abano, president of the Philippine Network of Environmental Journalists (PNEJ) blurted out. “I do not see the logic,” she added as she argues, “it is a wrong tourism promotion.”

While people living in snowy countries detest the bone-tingling chill, here comes Baguio dreaming to have snow, said a Baguio-based physician who regularly goes to the United States to visit his daughter.

It is (a) crazy idea, veteran journalist and former city councilor Nars Padilla running the 37-year-old private-government partnership Christmas celebrations here, said. He is touted as Baguio’s Santa Claus for 37 years as he wears St. Nicklaus costume every Christmas.

But unperturbed, city officials mostly backing the snow show do not have second thoughts pursuing the spectacle pointing out, Baguio needs to show something different.