MAYOR Benjamin Magalong and Rep. Mauricio Domogan launched the calendar of activities for the 30th Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City on Monday, Jan. 12. (Zaldy Comanda)
BAGUIO CITY – The city government led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong and officials of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) on Monday unveiled at the Baguio City Hall the calendar of activities for the month-long celebration of the 30th Panagbenga or Baguio Flower Festival.
The event in February with the theme Blooming Without End symbolizes three decades of stability, cultural pride, and community celebration.
BFFFI has lined up traditional events included in the Feb. 1 to March 8 event.
Panagbenga will begin with the grand opening parade on Feb. 1 where elementary students will showcase their skills in the drum and lyre competition, followed by the opening of the market encounter at Burnham Park.
The grand street dance parade will be held on Feb. 28 and March 1, followed by the grand floral parade and Session Road in Bloom from March 2 to March 8.
Panagbenga, a Kankanaey word which means "time of flowering," started in 1996 to help the city recover from the devastating 1990 Luzon earthquake.
Over the years, it has grown to become one of the most iconic festivals in the Philippines, attracting thousands of visitors with its unique flower parades, street dances, and cultural performances and has been recognized as a member of the International Festivals and Events Association.
Panagbenga is considered a powerful tourism and local livelihood booster for Baguio City, continuously providing economic support to small and large businesses, while strengthening the city’s identity as a cultural and creative hub of the Cordillera.