BAGUIO CITY– Floral floats adorned with creative designs, participated in by beauty queens and GenZ male models, captured the eyeballs of residents and tourists who witnessed the Grand Float Parade of Panagbenga 2023 this morning Sunday, February 26.
The parade contingents started rolling down from Upper Session Road to the Harrison Road of the Summer Capital of the Philippines.
Igorot hunks
Screams of excitement and appreciation from spectators filled the air as Cordillera hunks started the parade.
Wearing the native Igorot attire, 14 GenZ models held each letters or numbers to form the phrase “Panagbenga 2023.”
They are winners of various pageants from various regional, national and international male beauty pageants.
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Miss U PHL Rabiya Mateo, Miss Baguio on floats
Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo waved to the crowd on board one of the two Baguio Country Club (BCC) floats.
She was the Princess Jasmine of the fairytale “Aladdin” decorations and characters.
Krishnah Marie Gravidez, who will represent Baguio City in Miss Universe Philippines 2023, graced the Phoenix-inspired float of the Baguio City Government.
PMA band marches to ‘Tingting Tangtang’
The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) marching band drew out further giggles and cheers from the audience as they played famous and familiar songs and music.
The military musicians also showed gracefulness as they danced to the famous “Tang Ting Tang Ting” song of Vietnamese singer Hoang Thuy Linh.
24 floats participated
The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) said 24 companies and organizations joined this year’s Grand Float Parade.
For the Small Float Category, Converge, The Fraternal Order of Eagles, Eevor Skin Depot, Mang Inasal, Solid North, Palawan Express, Province of Benguet, Unilever Philippines and Zaparita’s Garden fielded their entries.
For the Big Float Category, entries came from the Avilon Zoo, Camp John Hay Leisure, Coca-Cola Philippines, IKEA Philippines, International Pharmaceuticals Inc., Jollibee Foods Corporation, Sitel Philippines and Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority.
Participating as non–competing entries are floats by the City Government of Baguio, the Province of Benguet and the Department of Tourism, Panagbenga Hall of Famer, Baguio Country Club, which will have two floats, and SM City Baguio.
The Float parade was also made livelier by the winners of the Grand Street Parade and marching bands from the different universities.
Other special guests
“Without question, the Panagbenga Festival, which started as a community endeavor, has evolved into a world-class celebration. A major tourism driver in Northern Luzon, Panagbenga reflects a season of blooming,” Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.
Frasco was the guest of honor and speaker. Other special guests include Sens. Imee Marcos and Lito Lapid, and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr.
After the parade, Session Road will be closed as stall owners and exhibitors will set up their booths.
Baguio Flower Festival nears its conclusion in a few days.
From Monday, February 27 to March 5, 2023, the people will be offered local and other food products, items, and goods from different parts of the countries during the “Session Road in Bloom.”
