Pols welcome at flower fest but no campaigning

BAGUIO CITY – Election bets can join, but "epal" moves are banned.

Local officials and organizers of the 24th staging of the Baguio Flower Festival, the “Panagbenga”, warned national bets and their supporters against taking advantage of the twin Grand Street Dancing and Grand Flower Float parades to gain votes.

This, amid criticism of bets already "invading" various festivals across the country.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said candidates for national posts can join the parades but will not be allowed to campaign. 

They will also be told not to break the parade line to shake hands with the crowd or hand out campaign paraphernalia.

Although candidates for national positions are welcome, Domogan, who is running for a seat at the House, said "they should strictly adhere to the prescribed rules and regulations in the conduct of the said activities to ensure orderliness and prevent the unnecessary interruption." 

The month-long Panagbenga started on Feb. 1. 

The official campaign period will run from Feb. 12 to May 11, although candidates have managed to skirt rules on premature campaigning, which, in any case, is not penalized.

The Grand Street Dancing parade is on March 2, followed by the Grand Flower Float parade on March 3.

Thousands of foreign and domestic visitors are expected to fill up the parade routes to witness the dynamic performances of the street dancers and the flower-bedecked floats.

Anthony de Leon, general manager of the Baguio Country Club and co-chairman of the Panagbenga Organizing Committee said, organizers do not want a repeat of previous experiences where some candidates joined the parade and defied the rules and regulations.

Some broke the parade lines and shook hands with the crowd, disrupting the parade flow.

Though supporters of candidates are allowed to distribute election paraphernalia, they should not be a distraction from the festival.

De Leon appealed to national candidates and their supporters to coordinate with the Panagbenga Organizing Committee, which will advise them on the rules and regulations on participation.

The organizing committee of the Baguio Flower Festival or “Panagbenga” has prohibited candidates in the mid-term polls from joining the grand parades on March 2 and 3.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, de Leon said candidates for national and local positions will not be allowed to join these parades, saying "they will be given a place at the grandstand of the Athletic Bowl together with the others.”

De Leon said politicians will only be allowed to watch the performances and field demonstrations.

The organizing committee also said that only competitors, official entries, and contingents from elementary, high school, college and open category shall be allowed to join the grand street dance parade. Only registered float entries and performing bands are allowed to join the grand float parade.

The panel also noted that no political personalities may join the grand parades in any form or manner.

Only incumbent local officials of the city may join the parade.

The peace and order committee is tasked to politely remove political personalities not covered by the exceptions, which shall be done in the presence of the accredited media group of the Panagbenga festival.

Politicians opting to sponsor any contingent or float entry during the grand parades may do so but cannot require the contingent or float to advertise, carry, distribute or display any of their streamers, banners, posters, leaflets, merchandise that bears the politician’s name, political party or pictures.

Contingents violating the rule will be automatically disqualified from the competition and will not be allowed to join the parade.

De Leon said the grand parades are not political events and should not be construed as one.

 “It is a flower festival parade and the organizing committee shall strictly implement the guidelines,” de Leon said.

Aside from not joining the parade, De Leon disclosed candidates will not also be allowed to put up their own floats, place their names on any float or ride the floats of their choice to avoid distracting the attention  of the public from the parading beautifully designed floats.

Politicians will not be allowed to deliver speeches but they could wave to the crowd and the participants as a gesture of their appreciation of the performances and the floats.

 He said individuals on board the floats will not be allowed to throw items to the crowd to avoid disrupting the attention of the spectators and incidents that could result to injuries of the people along the parade route.

 The Panagbenga grand street-dancing parade was held March 2 while the grand float parade is today. March 3.

 While there will be politicians who will be in the city during the flower festival parades, de Leon said they will be ushered by assigned marshals to their designated seats in the grandstand where they can witness the performances of the street dancers and the floats that will be paraded by the participants. -- Reports from PNA and Dexter A. See