Television networks’ ‘war’ beneficial to Panagbenga

BAGUIO CITY – The brewing network war among the three giant television networks greatly contributed in promotion of the 19th edition of the Panagbenga or the Baguio flower festival which has now blossomed into a P15 billion industry in the country’s Summer Capital.

The month-long flower festival officially ended recently with the staging of a simultaneous 15-minute fireworks display in six sites in the different parts of the central business district area, particularly at the Rose Garden, Melvin Jones grounds, the Baguio Athletic Bowl, the Baguio Cathedral and SM City Baguio, which provided an added attraction to the huge crowd that gathered at the market encounter site in Burnham Park and the Session Road in Bloom as well as the whole central business district area at the close of the festival.

TV 5 brought in its hottest stars as it spearheaded the closing of the flower festival with the “Everyday All the Way sa Panagbenga 2014” show at the Upper Session road stage. Families, group of friends, local fans of all ages as well as visitors who came in hundreds of thousands witnessed the festive show of the Kapatid network that featured entertaining performances, exciting games and other fun-filled activities that were led by some of TV 5’s stars who also introduced brand shows the viewers can look forward to.

The crowd erupted in cheers and applauses as they saw some of the main cast members of TV5’s latest daily prime time offering “Confessions of a Torpe” led by Ogie Alcasid, Alice Dixon, Wendell Ramos and Mark Neumann. The movie and television stars performed surprise numbers during the duration of the show while some lucky fans were chosen from the crowd to play some games alongside the stars.  The new TV% show also features Gelli de Belen, Bayani Agbayani, Pilita Corales, Albie Casino, Shaira Mae and Jojo Alejar.

The crowd went wild as the fun and crazy cast of TV5’s upcoming sitcom, One of the Boys, went to the main stage. TV5 drama princess Eula Caballero and the five half-Pinoy hunks of Juan Direction, Daniel Marsh, Charlie Sutcliffe, Henry Edwards, Michael McDonnell and Bryan Wilson, were given a laud welcome by the very excited attendees. One of the Boys is top billed by veteran actor and comedian Joey de Leon, who makes his much-awaited return in the sitcom genre after seven long years. The program also stars Nadine Samonte, Benjo Leoncio and Empoy.

On the other hand, the ABS-CBN Kapamilya network also brought to the city its big stars to help in drawing the influx of more visitors from the lowlands by the time that the flower festival came to a close.  The giant network held its own Panagbenga show at the Melvin Jones grounds featuring the big stars of its television series Galema and Be Careful of My Heart aside from the assistance extended by its Northern Luzon bureau.

Richard Yap and Jody Sta. Maria entertained the crowd that filled up the Melvin Jones ground as they took turns in showcasing their own entertainment numbers aside from offered fun games that satisfied the local residents and visitors who gathered to witness the performances of both big stars and their supporting casts perform live at the heart of the city.

GMA Kapuso Network joined the two other giant networks in providing entertainment to the local residents and visitors as it had its share of the crowd right within the premises of Sm City Baguio.   The Kapuso network brought in the cast of its new television sires, Carmela, in the persons of Marian Rivera and his leading man Alden Richard aside from Dingdong Dantes among others that really kept the crowd on their feet with their special performances and fun games offered for the viewing public.

Anthony de Leon, chairman of the Panagbenga executive committee, expressed the gratitude of the people of Baguio to the three giant television networks in ushering in record-breaking volume of people who came to the city to witness the highlights of the flower festival, including the various events that were lined up during the month-long festivities.

“The network war between our television giants provided the Panagbenga free exposure that translated to the influx of a greater volume of visitors who came to witness our festivities,” De Leon stressed.

He said conduct of events by the giant television networks in the city during the flower festival greatly helps in drawing the influx of more visitors because of the followers of the movie and television artists performing live on stage.

Aside from the free publicity being offered by the media outfits to the Panagbenga and the city as a whole, he added the networks bankroll the conduct of their shows that contribute to the influx of more people up to the closing ceremonies.

Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said support of local, national and international media to the annual staging of the flower festival has been instrumental in achieving the status of the festival as the country’s longest running crowd drawing event.

“We owe the success of the flower festival to our media personalities who continue to project Baguio city as one of the prime tourist destinations in our country today because of the unique staging of our own crowd drawing festivities,” Domogan said.

He said the network war among the giant television networks becomes advantageous to host local governments, especially in the staging of special events, because advertisements and propaganda materials are concentrated for the promotion of the events like the flower festival.

Domogan said the television networks can freely hold their shows simultaneously or during separate days within the flower festival calendar in the coming years in order to serve as a natural pull for visitors to continue flocking to the city to witness their favourite stars and enjoy the attractions to be offered by the festival organizers among others like the city’s cool and romantic weather, pine-scented air and scenic spots.-- Dexter A. See