43 floats bloom at Baguio flower festival
43 floats bloom at Baguio flower festival
BAGUIO CITY — The 29th Panagbenga Baguio Flower Festival drew thousands of visitors on Saturday, Feb. 22, as the Grand Street Dance Parade made its way through the city's main thoroughfares.
The parade began at 8 a.m., but eager spectators started gathering as early as 5 a.m.
The procession started at Panagbenga Park and followed a route through Session Road, Harrison Road, Jose Abad Santos Drive, and Lake Drive before culminating at the Melvin Jones football field.
Dancers, marching bands from various schools, and indigenous tribes from the Cordillera region participated in the parade, wearing vibrant costumes and carrying colorful props.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the Philippine Military Academy's (PMA) Color Guard, band members, cadets and personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection-Cordillera Administrative Region also joined the celebration.
Baguio City police said about 1,200 officers and force multipliers were deployed to ensure safety during both the Grand Street Dance Parade and the upcoming Grand Float Parade.
Organizers announced that a record-breaking 43 floats will participate in the Grand Float Parade happening today, Sunday, Feb. 23. This is a significant increase from last year's record of 33 floats.
This year's theme, "Blossom Beyond Boundaries," aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing inclusivity, sustainability and global connectivity.
Next year's edition of the Panagbenga Festival will be particularly special as it will mark the event's 30th anniversary.
Panagbenga, an annual flower festival held every February in Baguio City, derives its name from the Kankanaey term meaning "season of blooming."
The festival celebrates the history, traditions and values of Baguio and the Cordilleras and thrives through strong community participation.
The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. oversees the festival's organization, aiming to promote tourism in Baguio and the Cordilleras through various cultural events, exhibitions and activities while ensuring an environmentally sustainable approach.
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