THE 30th Panagbenga Festival with the theme ‘Blooming Without End’ in Baguio City kicked off on Feb. 1 with a street-dancing parade. (Zaldy Comanda)
BAGUIO CITY – The month-long 30th Panagbenga Festival with the theme “Blooming Without End” kicked off here on Sunday, Feb. 1.
The event kicked off with a street-dancing parade bannered by seven drum and lyre contingents – Tuba Central School Drum and Lyre Corps, Pugo Central School, El Tribu D’Lucban Elementary School, Baguio Central School, Lucban Elementary School, Puguis Elementary School, and Mabini Elementary School – competing in the elementary drum and lyre contest.
Rep. Mauricio Domogan, the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc., Baguio Tourism Council, and Liga ng mga Barangays were present at the parade.
An “Uggayam” or interfaith program was held before the parade at Panagbenga Park where various religious groups offered prayers for a successful and peaceful celebration, followed by a traditional “canao” or feast.
Market Encounter, where products from the Cordillera region and invited entrepreneurs from various areas are featured, and the Panagbengascapes landscaping competition and exhibit at the Rose Garden featuring 12 famous landscapers of Baguio City, opened.
The grand street dancing parade and flower float parade will be held on Feb. 28 and March 1, followed by the Session Road in Bloom on March 2. Panagbenga ends on March 8.