What to see at this year’s Panagbenga Baguio festival

THINKING about where to go on your next trip? You might want to check out Baguio City’s upcoming Panagbenga festival. 

Every year, the City of Pines holds it’s month-long annual festival known as Panagbenga. Carrying its theme “Blossoms Beyond Boundaries,” the event is set to kick off on February 1 and will close with the grand fireworks display on March 2.  

Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) promises that the event will go beyond its traditional roots and will embrace multiculturalism, innovation, and global recognition. The BFFI had also released a schedule of their upcoming festival on their website. 

Panagbenga Festival schedule of activities

Starting February 1, there will be a grand opening parade including a lively music to be played by drum and lyre bands from five schools and 13 cultural groups. 

On February 22, high school and college students will have a grand street dance parade, followed by a colorful floral float parade on February 23.  

From February 24 to March 2, the Session Road will have over 350 stalls to be explored and on February 26 to 27, the Burnham Park will have the fluvial parade.

The festival will be concluded with a grand aerial firework display and awarding ceremony on March 2. 

Road closure

Upon ensuring the locals and tourist security, City Police Director PCol. Ruel Tagel said that they will deploy 1,410 personnel from BCPO. 

In Bonifacio Street and Center Mall, checkpoints will be placed. Meanwhile motorists won’t be able to pass through from lower Magsaysay.

To create a space for the parade on Session Road, control stations will be set up along Harrison Road in Veterans Park and the bus terminal. 

“Bakasyon lanes” like in Kennon Road will be open to direct travelers during the month-long celebration. 

Meanwhile, the map for road closure and traffic advisory have not been made public. On Janaury 22, the committee noted that to control traffic, events are dispersed throughout the city.