Added features set for Panagbenga festivities

No campaigning allowed 

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – The 21st Baguio Flower Festival opens Feb. 1 with the school childrens’ drum and lyre parade from Panagbenga Park at Upper Session road, through the major thoroughfares and performance at the Melvin Jones Football grounds, Burnham Park.

A concert follows in the evening, at the SM Atrium.

Everybody is invited to all performances, Mayor Mauricio Domogan said, during regular media briefing here Wednesday. He added however that during the Feb. 1 opening, grand streetdancing and floral float parades on Feb. 27 and 28, respectively; candidates for the May elections should not take advantage of the occasion.

The grand street dancing parade starts at the Panagbenga Park, pass through Session road, Magsaysay Avenue, and Harrison road to the Athletic Bowl where performances will be shown. The float parade starts in front of the Regional Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) office, pass through Session road, Harrison road up to the Athletic Bowl.      

“We do not allow any form of campaigning,” including breaking the lines to shake hands with spectators, or distribution of campaign materials, the mayor further said.

Campaign period for national positions start Feb. 9, it was known.

Innovations for this year’s flower festival include the noticeable lessening of stalls in the Session Road in Bloom, the mayor said. In a Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI) committee meeting where plans are finalized, more space is allotted for landscapes, the mayor intimated. Last year’s 300 stalls may now only be 100 or more, he added.    

The city’s counterpart to the festival is P4 million, specifically for prizes in various competitions, Domogan said.    

Traffic plans for the month-long celebration are now laid out, where alternate and one-way roads, and parking areas are designated; and notices in strategic places for tourists’ early information. Among the most-visited places are Wright Park, Camp John Hay, Mines View, The Mansion, Philippine Military Academy, thus roads leading to said areas are expected to burgeon with tourist-filled vehicles.     

Other Panagbenga activities are: Feb. 1 to March 6, Baguio Blooms exhibition and exposition, Lake Drive, Burnham Park; Feb. 8, Chinese Spring Festival; Feb. 14, Handog ng Panagbenga Sa Pamilya Baguio at the Melvin Jones Grandstand and Football grounds: Let A Tthousand Flowers Bloom, Kite-Flying Challenge, Panagbenga Variety Show, Fireworks Display;

Feb. 19 to 21, PMA Grand Alumni Homecoming; Feb. 19, Floral arrangement competition judging; Feb. 15 to 17, School-based landscaping competition; Feb. 27 to 28, Sponsor’s and exhibitor’s Day at the Athletic Bowl; Feb. 29 to March 6, Session Road In Bloom; March 5, Pony Boys’ Day, Wright Park; March 6, Closing Ceremonies and Grand Fireworks display at the Athletic Bowl and other areas in the Central Business District.

Activities yet to be scheduled is the Barangay-based Clean and Green Landscaping competition judging.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Bless the Children with Flowers.”

Spring Festival launching slated Jan. 25 in Baguio

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio Spring Festival or Chinese Lunar New Year celebration will kick off here on Jan. 25, 8 a.m. at the City Hall grounds.

A line-up of activities prepared by the city government and the Baguio Filipino-Chinese Community will be launched during the program to be graced by Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Rep. Nicasio Aliping Jr.

Executive committee chair Kane Chanbonpin will open the program while adviser and parade chair Peter Ng will present the committee members.

Lawyer Cristeta Leung will talk on the significance of the celebration.

A cultural dance presentation will be rendered by the Baguio Patriotic High School Chinese Faculty to be followed by a trivia to be facilitated by Pepito Avena, head secretariat of the committee.

The Spring Festival is considered the grandest and the most important annual event for Chinese people. This year, Year of the Monkey according to Chinese zodiac, the Chinese New Year falls on Feb. 8.

The city’s celebration proper will be marked mainly by a gift-sharing program at the Bell Church grounds.

Highlights of the activities include a media briefing on Feb. 3 6:30 p.m. at the Hotel Supreme, barangay gift-giving on Feb. 5 at Dontogan barangay and the awaited grand colorful parade, 2:30 p.m. at Session Road with program at Melvin Jones and dinner and awards night 7 p.m. at Hotel Supreme.