Baguio City — It’s February and the famous Flower Festival (Panagbenga) is back after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19 lockdowns.

The 27th “Panagbenga ” officially kicked off today drawing crowd from excited residents and tourists who missed the month-long flower festival.

Panagbenga (pronounced panag’banga) is an indigenous term for a season of blooming.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong officiated the grand opening The official opening drew a big crowd along the Melvin Jones Grandstand with various events.

Four schools competed for the drum and lyre event: Baguio Central Elementary School, Dona Josefa Carino Elementary School, Lucban Elementary School and Tuba Central Elementary School.

School children, dressed their colorful regalia, provided sterling performance depicting a season of blooms.

Eight cultural groups performed during the opening: Amamong Chi Umili Cultural Group, Bicas Di Litagwan Cultural Group, Bunak Shi Shuntog Performing Group, Easter College, Kafagway Cultural Group, Pinsao National High School, UP Youth Organization and the Igorot Treasurers International and Benguet TV Cultural Group.

Landscape artist also showcased their floral themed rendition of colorful gardens.

Farmers from Buguias, Benguet also gave away freshly harvest tomatoes to visitors who watched the events.

Organisers enforced strict health protocol — spectators were situated in sheds and viewing platforms around the event area for a more comfortable viewing.

The Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) guidelines on holding publics were followed.

Classes were suspended today in all levels in Baguio City, both public and private schools, to pave the way for the festival grand opening.

The 27th Flower Festival hopes to bring back Baguio City as a major tourism destination, drawing a big crowd for the month long celebrations.

Baguio City’s Flower Festival “Panagbenga is included in the list of Festivals and Events Organizations as a on of the top Festivals nationwide.