One of the country’s most popular festivals, Panagbenga in Baguio, is back after two years of the pandemic. However, the Panagbenga 2022 Special Edition, as this year’s ongoing festival is called, has no street dancing and floral float parades. The floral floats have been among the festival’s biggest attractions through the years—colorful floats richly decked with all kinds of blooms that evoke the exuberance of Philippine summer and the rich imagery of the summer capital of the country.
To adapt to the times that call for health protocols and social distancing, the Panagbenga Park instead became the venue for morning prayers and ecumenical rituals led by Fr. Marlon Urmaza (Catholic Church), Pastor Jesus Baluyut (Protestant church) and Uztadh Nadhir Oquendo (Muslim faith).
Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. chairman for life Mauricio Domogan leads the uggayam. (Photo courtesy of Edu Jarque)
Mauricio Domogan, chairman for life of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. led the uggayam or traditional Cordilleran Prayer.
Dancers from the University of the Cordillera Saeng Kasay perform around the firepit. (Photo from Public Information Office—City of Baguio)
The University of the Cordillera Saeng Kasay performed the traditional rites around the firepit.
The Melvin Jones Grandstand became the venue of performances by the St. Louis University CCA Dance Troupe and St. Louis University Marching Band.
Baguio City mayor Benjamin Magalong declares the festival open. (Photo from Public Information Office—City of Baguio)
Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong declared the festival open.
One of the entries in the Gardenscapes competition (Photo courtesy of Edu Jarque)
One of the entries in the Gardenscapes competition (Photo courtesy of Edu Jarque)
The Baguio Country Club opened its Korean and Japanese landscapes at the BCC Blooms Garden Exhibit last February. Ongoing until March 27 is the Panagbenga Open Landscaping Exhibition Gardenscapes.
The Panagbenga festival schedule this March:
March 13: Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio; FUNagbenga Zumba, Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom: An Open Painting Exhibition, the Panagbenga Kiteflying Challenge and the Cultural Show
March 19-20: 9th Stage Ronda Pilipinas Criterium Race and Awards Night
March 19-27: 2nd Montañosa Film Festival
March 20: Panagbenga Open Dance Competition Cultural Category/Festival Dance Category
March 25-26: Flower Tee Golf
March 21-27: Session Road in Bloom
March 27: Closing Fireworks Display
BFFFI president Freddie Alquiros and Baguio Country Club general manager and BFFFI director Anthony de Leon (Photo courtesy of Edu Jarque)
Reservists ready to lend a hand. (Photo courtesy of Edu Jarque)
