BAGUIO CITY – Twelve contingents wowed the crowd as they performed at the grand street dancing parade of the 29th Panagbenga Festival with the theme “Blossoms Beyond Boundaries” here on Saturday, Feb. 22.
YOUNG native dancers perform in the Panagbenga Grand Street Dance Parade in Baguio City on Saturday, Feb. 22. (Zaldy Comanda)
Spectators lined up as early as 5 a.m. to watch the event.
The parade was led by the Philippine Military Academy Band and cadets, followed by city government officials, foreign and local sister delegations, Baguio Tourism Council, and guest performers from the Citizen Brigade Band from Dasmarinas City, Cavite and Saint Louis Marching Band.
Teams in the elementary drum and lyre competition are Mabini Elementary School, Manuel Roxas Elementary School, Tuba Central Elementary School, Rosario Elyu DLC, and El Tribu D. Lucban.
Vying for honors in the festival dance competition are Bitulok Tribe of Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija; Saint Louis University, Pinsao National High School Cultural Ensemble, Amputi Layag Street Dancers of San Carlos City, Pangasinan; Tribu Hiraya Manawari-Linubian Festival of Poblacion East, Rosario, La Union; Tawid A Balitok, of Bacnotan, La Union, and Bibyun Lubuagan of Lubuagan, Kalinga.
Police have imposed tight measures to secure the event. Candidates in the 2025 elections were banned from campaigning.