‘Blooming’ events set for Panagbenga fest

BAGUIO CITY  -- City folks and visitors have something to look forward again in this tourism resort from Feb. 1 to March 8 with the 25th staging of the Baguio Flower Festival, popularly known as Panagbenga.

The Baguio Flower Festival which generally aimed to feature the famous flowers of Baguio and help the city recover from the stigma of the 1990 Luzon killer earthquake was first held in 1995.

It was the brainchild of the late lawyer Damaso Bangaoet, then the managing director of the John Hay Poro Point Development Corporation (JPDC).

                In 1997, the festival was named “Panagbenga”, a Kankanaey (native language in the province of Benguet and Mountain Province) term which means “season of blooming”.

Primarily showcasing the history, arts, culture and traditions of Baguio and other parts of Cordillera, it is now being organized, promoted and managed by the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) in partnership with the City Government of Baguio.

Through the years, the Panagbenga was Baguio’s biggest single crowd drawer of both local and foreign tourists with its month-long festivities.

                Now the “best festival” in Northern Luzon, Panagbenga will celebrate its silver anniversary this year themed, “Panagbenga@25: Blooming through the Years”.

The festival opened yesterday (Feb. 1) with a parade and program in the morning and fireworks display in the evening.

                The Baguio Blooms Exposition which offers food and non – food trade fair at the parking area of the Baguio Convention Center and  the landscaping exhibition and competition at designated areas in the Central Business District and parks will  be opened.

Both activities will run during for the whole duration of the Panagbenga.

The traditional activities like the family fair - Handog ng Panagbenga sa Baguio, an open kite flying competition, and the Panagbenga Cultural Show at the Melvin Jones Grandstand and football grounds are set on Feb. 16 and will be capped by a fireworks display

                The Panagbenga cultural dance competition is also scheduled at Melvin Jones while the Flower Tee Golf Tournament is set at the Baguio Country Club Golf Course on Feb. 22.

                The most awaited Panagbenga highlights -- the grand street dance competition, grand float parade are set on Feb. 29 and March 1, respectively. 

Another major event like “Session Road in bloom” is from March 2 to 8 while the Pony Boys Day is set at the Wright Park on March 7. 

Panagbenga 2020 closes on March 8 at the Baguio Athletic Bowl.

Nina Dominique Fokno Longid, the 20 - year old lass who won the Pangbenga 2020 theme writing contest, said she practically grew up with the Baguio Flower Festival, having personally witnessed how the festivities grew and “bloomed” year after year.

                “I was a year old when I first experienced Panagbenga in 2001. I may not have memories that time but through the years, I have made some and they are all colorful,” she said. “Memories of flowers, of treats, of graceful dancers and giant floats, and of families and community. It has become a tradition for us to watch the parades and to stroll up and down Session Road when it is in bloom.

“The Panagbenga festival although having become bigger over time has retained its charm and magic. I am 20 years old now, but I still look forward to the time when Baguio celebrates the blooming of the flowers through the years.”  -- JDP/CCD-PIA CAR