BAGUIO CITY – Some eighteen traditional events are initially lined up by organizers of the 24th edition of the nationally-acclaimed and globally-recognized Panagbenga or Baguio Flower Festival that continues to boost the growth of the local tourism industry.
The theme of 38-day flower festival that runs from February 1 to March 10, 2019 is ‘Panagbenga 2019: Blooming Forward.’ The flower festival will kick off on February 1, 2019 with the Panagbenga opening ceremonies preceded by the grand opening parade from the Panagbenga Park along Upper Session road up to the Baguio Athletic Bowl where contingents from the participating elementary drum and lyre groups will participate in the elimination round to select the finalists that will compete in the grand streetdancing parade while the month-long Baguio Blooms Exposition and Exhibition along Juan Luna and Burnham Lake Drive that will run from February 1 to March 10, 2019 will be opened on the same day.
On February 5, 2019, Baguio city will be joining the global community in the celebration of the Chinese New Year where the city government and the Chinese community are lining up various celebratory events.
February 13th to 16th shall be the school-based competition on floral arrangement in the elementary and high school divisions with the judging of the landscaping competition in both the elementary and high school levels done simultaneously.
Hundreds of golf enthusiast will have a chance to participate in the 2-day Flower Tee Golf tournament to be held at the fairways of the Baguio Country Club (BCC) coinciding with the alumni homecoming weekend of the premier military school in the Asia-Pacific region, the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), slated for February 15-17, 2019.
The Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio, Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom, Panagbenga Open Kite Flying Competition, and Panagbenga Recycled Craft Competition, Panagbenga Cultural Show–Colleges and Universities will be held at the Melvin Jones football ground to be capped by a grand fireworks display on February 17, 2019.
The newly introduced Pets on Parade and the Panagbenga Open Cultural Dance Competition and the traditional Concert at the Park will be held on February 23, 2019 while the Sponsors Day will be conducted at the Ganza parking area and the Baguio Athletic Bowl on March 2 to 3, 2019.
On March 2, 2019, competing contingents in the elementary, high school and open divisions will be showcasing their performances during the grand streetdancing parade from Upper Session road up to the Baguio Athletic Bowl while the grand float parade which will have two categories, the large float and small and medium floats, to be held on March 3, 2019.
On March 4-10, 2019, Session road will be closed to vehicular traffic and converted into a promenade area for the week-long Session Road in Bloom while the traditional Pony Boys Day will be at the Wright Park on March 9, 2019. The closing and awarding ceremonies of the festival will be held on March 10, 2019 at the Baguio Athletic Bowl capped by a grand fireworks display. By Dexter A. See
