Licad headlines Baguio Country Club’s milestone year
WORLD-RENOWNED pianist Cecile Licad performs at Baguio Country Club on 27 September, a free concert offered to members, guests, and the Baguio community as part of the club’s 120th anniversary celebrations.
Photograph by Aram Lascano for DAILY TRIBUNE
BAGUIO CITY – World-renowned pianist Cecile Licad graced the stage of Baguio Country Club (BCC) on Saturday with a free concert for members, guests, and the local community – a highlight in the club’s continuing celebration of its 120th anniversary.
The milestone year, which formally began last 18 February, has been marked by a series of activities underscoring BCC’s unique blend of tradition, innovation, and community engagement.
General Manager Anthony de Leon, the club’s longest-serving leader for more than 20 years, credited the institution’s longevity to “the resiliency of the people, the organization, the support of the board of directors, and especially the members of the club.”
“We’re able to sustain it no matter the challenges, including the business and tourism environment, whether local or national. It’s a collaborative effort of everyone, the different stakeholders,” he said in an exclusive interview with DAILY TRIBUNE ahead of Licad's special concert.
BAGUIO Country Club General Manager Anthony de Leon during an exclusive interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE ahead of world-renowned pianist Cecile Licad’s special concert, part of BCC’s 120th anniversary celebration in Baguio City on Saturday, 27 September.
Photograph by Aram Lascano for DAILY TRIBUNE
Balancing heritage and modernization
De Leon emphasized that while the club embraces modernization to deliver efficiency and convenience, it retains its heritage and personalized service – hallmarks that have defined BCC across generations.
“When it comes to modernizing, it is so to expedite the demands of more efficient service, but at the same time, maintaining the personalized service of our staff with our clientele,” he explained.
“Since the club has survived and was able to sustain its operations for over 120 years, it’s because of the resiliency and innovation of the different leaders from the past and the present.”
Benchmark for tourism
Over the decades, BCC has become a benchmark for hospitality and tourism in the city and beyond.
“A lot of establishments, including the local government and national agencies in their respective regional offices, look up to the standards and the way we do our business here,” De Leon noted.
“That’s why we’re proud to say we’re the first and only multi-awarded and internationally recognized five-star mountain resort in the country.”
Among its accolades, BCC is a Hall of Famer of the ASEAN Green Hotel Award, reflecting its strong commitment to sustainable tourism practices.
