BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – – The Baguio Flower Festival popularly known as Panagbenga is all set to open this February 1 with a grand opening parade along the city’s main thoroughfares and a program at the Melvin Jones Grandstand.
The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) headed by Executive Committee Chairman Anthony De Leon and the city government headed by Mayor Benjamin Magalong seek the support of residents and visitors for the successful staging of Panagbenga 2023, which adopts the theme, “A Renaissance of Wonder and Beauty”.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong (middle) calls for the support of Baguio folks and tourist alike for a succesful staging of Panagbenga 2023. Also in photo are BFFFI Execom Chair Anthony De Leon (left) and BCPO Director Col. Francis Bulwayan Jr. (CCD/PIA CAR)
Magalong, in Kapihan media forum at the Baguio Country Club in January 25, outlined that successful staging of Panagbenga 2023 will prove that Baguio City is very well on track towards economic recovery.
With the expected influx of tourists during the duration of the Panagbenga, he appeals to the city residents to be patient as he assured that the city government has set security, traffic management and peace and order preparation plans for the festival.
De Leon seconded the call for support and patience especially of the Baguio citizens as the city remains among the top tourist destinations in the country amid the continuing presence of the COVID – 19 threat.
The estimated 1.5 to 1.7 million Baguio visitors (based on accounted data) in a year do not even reflect the real numbers as transient homes, unregistered homestays facilities and households accepting visitors are not accounted for, De Leon said.
Baguio City Police Office Director Francisco Bulwayan assured their readiness in ensuring peace and order during the Panagbenga 2023, with almost 1,700 police personnel assigned to do crowd control along with hundreds of volunteer, as well as to ensure traffic management, manage control points, tourist destinations and critical infrastructures such as public transport terminals and even the outskirt areas in the city.
BFFFI Chief of Staff Evangeline Payno (left) gives updates on the grand parades rules and registration while Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio Executive Director Mary Lou Galiste shares the guidelines on the on the Market encounter and Session Road in Bloom. (CCD/PIA CAR)
For the Feb. 1 grand opening of Panagbenga 2023, there are three elementary schools and eight cultural performing groups that will join. The Philippine Military Academy and Saint Louis University High School and College marching bands will light up the festivity mode.
Bulwayan also assured that there are also assigned quick reaction teams that will be ready to respond to any emergency.
The Panagbenga 2023 festivities will be until March 5. The festival highlights which are the Grand Street Dancing and the Grand Float parades are set on February 25 and 26, respectively.
For the other Panagbenga traditional events, the Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio will be on February 12; the Fluvial parade at the Burnham Park Lake on February 19; Session Road in Bloom from February 27 to March 5. The market encounter will be opened at the Burnham Park for the whole duration of the Flower Festival. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)
Saint Louis University Marching Band playing the Panagbenga hymn during the Baguio Flower Festival 2023 launching at the City Hall Flag raising ceremony last Dec 12, 2022. (CCD/PIA CAR)
