Panagbenga events, traffic plans set

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – A week away from the 2016 Baguio Flower Festival opening on Feb. 1, schoolchildrens’ drum and lyre groups rehearse the Panagbenga hymn as landscapers prepare their site along Lake Drive, Burnham Park.

According to Mayor Mauricio Domogan, the opening parade starts at Panagbenga Park, Upper Session road and winds up with performances at Melvin Jones, Burnham Park.

The grand street dancing parade on Feb. 27 starts at the Panagbenga Park; while the float parade the following day starts at the Regional Department of Interior and Local Government office frontage, both to culminate at the Athletic Bowl, Burnham Park.     

Traffic plans for the month-long celebration shall be presented in a coordination meeting this week by the Baguio City Police Office Traffic Management Bureau (BCPO). Alternate and one-way roads, and parking areas are designated; with notices and signs to most-visited places, in strategic places for tourists’ early information.    

Police augmentation for security concerns during Panagbenga from the Police Regional Office is expected, the mayor also said.

Other Panagbenga activities are: February 1 to March 6, Baguio Blooms exhibition and exposition, Lake Drive, Burnham Park; Feb. 8, Chinese Spring Festival; Feb. 14, HandogngPanagbenga 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.

Barangay-based Clean and Green Landscaping competition is still to be scheduled.The theme Panagbenga 2016 is “Bless the Children with Flowers.”