New Panagbenga fest events schedule bared

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI) issued the new schedule for the previously postponed events of the 25th edition of the Panagbenga or the Baguio flower festival to guide visitors in finalizing their scheduled visits to the city.

BFFFI executive committee co-chairperson and Baguio Country Club general manager Anthony R. de Leon said the Panagbenga Flower Tee golf tournament was moved to Feb. 22 at the Baguio Country Club fairway while the judging of the school-based landscaping competition will be held on March 4-6.

The Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilyang Baguio, the Panagbenga open kite flying contest, Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom, Panagbenga cultural show of the academe and initial fireworks display will be simultaneously held on March 15.

The much-awaited grand opening parade was scheduled March 21 while the Panagbenga cultural dance competition of different tribes will be conducted March 22.

De Leon said the decision to re-schedule the major flower festival events next month was the product of the close coordination among health authorities, local officials and the BFFFI wherein it was noted the situation in the city on the Corona virus Disease (COVID) 2019 scare improved the past several weeks.

On March 28, the public will be entertained by the performers that will be participating in the grand street-dancing parade followed by their field performance at the Baguio Athletic Bowl while colorful floats will be displayed along the major streets of the city during the grand float parade on March 29.

The week-long Session road in Bloom that was originally scheduled on March 2-8 will now be conducted on March 30 to April 5 wherein the whole stretch of Session road will be closed to vehicular traffic to pave the way for its conversion to a virtue promenade area with the establishment of sidewalk cafes and exhibitors that will be displaying flower-inspired products and handicrafts.

The traditional Sponsors Day will also be held on March 28-29 at the Baguio Athletic Bowl and the Melvin Jones grandstand while the Pony Boys Day will be held on April 4, 2020 at the Wright Park.

The flower festival closing ceremonies earlier scheduled on March 8 will be held on April 5 at the Baguio Athletic Bowl which will be capped by a grand fireworks display, one of the much-awaited events of the Panagbenga.

The theme of this year’s flower festival is ‘ Panagbenga 2020: Blooming Through the Years’  which was chosen from hundreds of entries that were submitted by participants to the theme making contest that was previously launched to involve the public in the crafting the theme for the Panabenga, especially that it will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Panagbenga is the only festival in the country that was included as among the festivals in the world that was included in the elite list under the International Festivals and Events Association.