Panagbenga events boost Baguio tourism

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Panagbenga or Flower Festival events are boosting tourism in this summer capital.
    After settling for toned down themes in the past two years, the Baguio Flower Festival opened the 2022 special edition with more upbeat albeit still subdued celebration mood to usher in the city’s entry to the new normal phase of the pandemic.
    Mayor Benjamin Magalong said Panagbenga 2022 features traditional activities like the open landscaping exhibition and competition, Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio and Session Road in Bloom but for health and safety considerations, will still do away with the crowd-drawing street-dancing and float parades.
    “In keeping with the festival’s name, the mainstay activities were enhanced to depict and inspire celebration in the blooming.  Other substantive events were added also in keeping with the theme,” he said.
    Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc.  spokesperson Andrew Pinero said the opening program on March 6 started with inter-faith prayer at the Panagbenga Park at South Drive to be led by Fr. Marlon Urmaza (Catholic), Pastor Jesus Baluyut (Protestant), Uztadh Nadhir Oquendo (Islamic), a fellow for the Christian prayer and former mayor and BFFFI chairman for Life Mauricio Domogan (Cordilleran prayer or uggayam).
    A special cultural performance by the University of the Cordillera Saeng Kasay will capped this leg.
     Program proper and ribbon-cutting ceremonies of the Panagbenga Landscaping Exhibition/Competition followed at Melvin Jones at 9 a.m.
    Domogan delivered the welcome remarks while Rep. Mark Go the inspiration message.
    Mayor Benjamin Magalong presided ceremonial declaration of opening of the festival and the unveiling of the festival calendar of events.
     Intermission numbers was provided by the St. Louis University CCA Dance Troupe and SLU Marching Band.
    After the program, focus was Botanical Garden for the opening and special tour.
    The festival main events:
     *Panagbenga Open Landscaping Exhibition “Gardenscapes” – March 6-27
    *Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio (FUNagbenga ZUmba, Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom Open Painting Exhiition,  Panagbenga Kite-Flying Challenge and Cultural Show) – March 13
    *Panagbenga Open Dance Competition (Cultural Dance and Festival Dance categories)—March 20
    *Session Road in Bloom – March 21-27
    *Closing Fireworks Display – March 27.
Special events:
    *Baguio Country Club Garden Exhibit (Korean and Japanese-themed gardens) – BCC Theme Park, Feb. 18 onwards;
    *9th Stage Ronda Pilipinas – Citywide and Baguio Convention Center, March 19-20;
     *2nd Montañosa Film Festival – Baguio Athletic Bowl, March 19-27; and
     *Flower Tee Golf, BCC, March 25-26.