Baguio's Panagbenga Festival

Ano nga ba ang Panagbenga Festival? Let’s consult MR. WIKI…

According to WIKIPEDIA: Panagbenga Festival is a month-long annual flower festival occurring in Baguio City, the summer capital of thePhilippines. The term is Malayo-Polynesian origin, meaning “season of blooming.” The festival, held during the month of February, was created as a tribute to the city’s flowers and as a way to rise up from the devastation of the 1990 Luzon earthquake. The Festival includes floats that are decorated with flowers unlike those used Pasadena’s Rose Parade. The festival also includes street dancing, presented by dancers clad in flower-inspired costumes that are inspired by the Bendian, an Ibaloi dance of celebration that came from Cordillera Region.

My friend and I booked our bus ticket at the Victory Liner bus terminal as early as January. It is advisable to book your ticket in advance to prevent difficulty in getting bus tickets for your trip to Panagbenga Festival.

We left Manila Friday at 11 evening and we arrived in Baguio around 5am. Sobrang lamig sa Baguio pagdating namin. Pero grabe din naman sa dami ng tao. The first thing we did is to book our ticket to Manila. Grabe ang haba ng pila sa mga ticket booths. It took us more or less 1 hour bago kami nakabili ng return ticket namin sa Manila.

We decided muna na magbreakfast sa Jollibee dahil gutom na din naman kami. After the quick breakfast nagulat kami sa kapal ng tao sa kalsada. Naghanap kami ng magandang post to watch the Street Dancing.

It was already 8am when the parade started. It was participated by the local government officials, public offices, private corporation, schools, and different establishments in Baguio. PMA Cadets lead the parade.

Ang ganda ng music na sinasayawan ng mga participants. Ang galing ng mga steps nila. Sobrang very festive ang mga costumes na suot nila. Merong mga choreography na pang stationary at meron ding choreography habang lumalakad sila sa parade.

Nakakaaliw yung mga kids na sumali sa parade kasi hindi sila nahihiya na magperform sa harap ng napakadaming tourists sa kanilang lugar. Nakatatawa nga dahil me isang dancer na habang sumasayaw ay natanggal ang swelas ng footwear nya. Siguro dahil sa layo at hirap ng dance steps nila.

Around 11 am when the Street Dancing Parade ended. After that we went to our lodging site, the Peak Blossom Hotel. Hindi masyadong maganda ang service nila dito. Most of the time walang hot water. Yeah your heard me right, walang hot water so no choice kung hindi maligo ka ng malami na tubig (as in parang galing sa ref). I will not recommend this lodging site to the tourists na magbabakasyon with their family sa Baguio. Promise, you will be disappointed.

Eniweiz, after namin na makabawi ng tulog (ito ang pinakamasarap gawin sa Baguio), we went out to explore some tourist spots sa Baguio pero tama pala ang sabi nila na if you want to explore the Beauty of Baguio huwag kang pupunta ng Panagbenga. Sobrang traffic at sobrang dami ng tao. So, we ended up having our early dinner then naglakad ng konti sa Session Road. After that uminom lang ng konti then we went back to the Hotel.

Sunday is the Big Day for Panagbenga Festival. We woke up early and unfortunately walang hot water. Huh! So napilitan kami ng maligo ng ice cold water kesa naman lumabas kami ng hindi nakakaligo…mas kadiri di ba? Pagdating namin ng Session Road sobrang dami na ng tao. Ang higpit ng security. Wala ng magandang pwesto.

Nakakuha kami ng tiyempo na makasampa sa bakod at makakuha ng magandang pwesto for the Float Parade. Ilang sandal pa, nagpalakpakan ang mga tao dahil sa paparating na mga makukulay na Float na napapalamutian ng mga makukulay na bulaklak. Ang parada ay lalo pang pinakulay ng mga kasuotan ng mga banda at mananayaw. Ang mga Float ay pinakinang din ng mga Artistang nakasakay sa bawat kasaling float.

Merong mahigit 20 floats ang sumali sa parade. Ilan sa mga sumali ay SM, TV5, Dunkin Donut, Choco Mucho, Unionsteel, Efficascent Oil, Convergys, Coca Cola, Aegis Peoplesupport, Dept of Tourism, Tollway Department, MNTC, Samsung, etc..

Naging matagumpay ang parade dahil sa dami ng mga taong nanonood nito. Yung katabi ko nga na taga Manila din sabi nya every year daw talaga pumupunta sya ng Baguio to watch Panagbenga Festival. Naging sulit naman ang pagpunta namin sa Baguio for the Panagbenga Festival.

See you in Baguio in February 2012 for the Panagbenga Festival!!!