By Zaldy Comanda BAGUIO CITY — Colorful varieties of flowers andornamental plants designed on 44 floats participating in the grand flower float parade of the 29th Panagbenga Festival in  Baguio City, on  February 23. With the theme “Blossoms Beyond Boundaries”, the flower floats from the Small, Medium and Large categories, once again shone, highligting their float entries in line with this year’s theme, which will be the basis for the judges’ selection of the winners. As early as 4:00 a.m., spectators were positioned along Session and Harrison Road to get a closer look at the elegant designs of the floats, some of which carried celebrities, much to the delight of the spectators. According to the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI), this year the number of participating floats increased to 44, compared to 33 in 2024. In the small float category, there are 11; in the medium category, 10; and in the large category, 14, all competing. Also included in the parade are the City Government float; Department of Tourism float; Hall of Fame Baguio Country Club, SM Prime Holding, Inc., Paragon Hotel and Suites, Ilocos Norte and other floats, all not competing in the entries. The flower float is considered a crowd-drawing event in the history of the Panagbenga Festival since 1995. This year, the small float category will include the Baguio-Benguet Bonsai Club and Panagbenga Landscapes, Baguio Camella Big Brother Inn, Jack’s Baguio Restaurant, Inc., Kyoto Printing Services, Panagbenga Landscaping Association, Panagbenga Landscaping Association (second entry), Radiowealth Enterprises, Inc., Tecsphere Enterprises, Inc., Wilcon Deport, Wood,Rock and Flowers Group and Zaparitas Garden. In the medium category are Chowking, Commission on Elections, Mang Inasal, Palawan Pawnshop, Philippine Retirement Authority, The Riles Ventures, Inc., Unilever Phils Inc.-Sunsilk, Vendors Group, You Glow Babe Skin Care Products Trading and Zaparita Garden.In the large floral float category are Activations Advertising Inc./Uniliver Philippines, Surf; Converge ICT, Golden Arches Development Corporation, Igorot Stone Kingdom, International Pharmaceutical Authority Inc., John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC), Jollibee Foods Corporation, KFC, Narvacan Naisangsangayan, Pangasinan Solid North Transit, Inc., Pepsi Cola, Republic Gas Corporation, SCD-Eevor Skincare Depot and TIEZA (Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority).    

  BAGUIO CITY – The Saint Louis University Center for Culture and the Arts and El Tribu D.Lucban, of Lucban Elementary School emerged as champions in the street dancing and showdown competition of the 29th Panagbenga Festival with the theme “Blossoms Beyond Boundaries” in Baguio City, on February 22. First runner up is Bibyun Lubuagan, of Lubuagan, Kalinga, who is known to have been the champion in the previous Bodong Festival in Kalinga and second place was Tawid A Balitok,of Bacnotan, La Union, all participants in the festival dance open category, who will receive P200,000; P100,000 and P70,000, respectively. The amazing performance of the SLU-CCA performers, artistry and refined storytelling, brought to life the colorful oral tapestry and co mmunity of the Cordillera in a beautiful and unforgettable way, called “Bagbagtu”. “Bagbagtu”as a reflection of lifethrough the element of water, is a fitting and “strong reminder that water is life, and life flows where water thrives.” Also honored as Best Music and Choreography was SLU-CCA and Best in Costume and Props was Tawid aBalitok ti Bacnotan, La Union. Coming in second from Lucban Elementary School were Mabini Elementary School, who was named 1st runner-up, and Tuba Elementary School, who was named 2nd runner-up, each receiving cash prizes of P15,000; P100,000 and P70,000, respectively. In the cultural group, the BIMAAK Cultural Dance Group of Baguio City National School also emerged as champions, with their per formance of “Ullalim Kalinga”, out of 22 other participants in the Rhythm of the Highland, A showcase of Culture and Dance of the Panagbenga Festival last February 15. Saeng Ya Kasay Cultural Ensemble won as 1st runner-up and Iyaman Cultural Performance Group as 2nd runner-up. They will receive cash prizes of P100,000, P70,000, and P50,000, respectively.By Zaldy Comanda  

BAGUIO CITY – With the theme “Blossoms Beyond Boundaries”, the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI) announced that Baguio City is all set for the grand celebration of the 29th Panagbenga Festival, the grand street dancing parade and grand floral float parade on February 22-23. Evangeline Payno, chief of staff of Panagbenga, said that five elementary drum and lyre will return for their street dance competition and seven participants in the open category festival dance competition. The five elementary drum and lyre are Mabini Elementary School, Manuel Roxas Elementary School, Tuba Central Elementary School, Rosario Elyu DLC and El Tribu D.Lucban. In the festival dance competition are Bitulok Tribe, of Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija; Saint Louis University, Pinsao National High School Cultural Essemble, Amputi Layag Street Dancers, of San Carlos City, Pangasinan; Tribu Hiraya Manawari-Linubian Festival, of Poblacion East, Rosario, La Union; Tawid A Balitok, of Bacnotan, La Union and Bibyun Lubuagan, of Lubuagan, Kalinga. Also participating in the parade as guest performers are the famous Citizen Brigade Band of Dasmarinas, Cavite and Bureau of Fire Department Street Dance Performers. The parade will start at 8:00 a.m. led by the Philippine Military Academy Colorful Band, PMA cadets, city government officials, foreign sister cities delegation, Baguio Tourism Council and Liga ng mga Punong Barangay. Also participating are the Saint Louis Marching Band, BFFFI and Little Panagbenga 2025. Payno also reported the increase in participants in the floral float parade this year with 42, compared to 33 in 2024. In the small float category, there are 11; in the medium category, 10; and in the large category, 14, all competing. Also participating in the parade are the City Government float; Department of Tourism float; Hall of Fame Baguio Country Club, SM Prime Holding, Inc. and other floats, all non-competing entries. City Director Ruel Tagel, of the Baguio City Police Office, announced their public safety and security plan to ensure the security of parade spectators. According to Tagel, a total of 1,200 police officers will be deployed along the parade route, along with force multipliers who will serve as crowd control and maintain order in the parade flow. “We have also deployed police in civilian clothes to monitor miscreants who may prey on the parade. There are also spotters assigned and police assigned at the city boundaries and there are police assistance desks and medical teams. The BCPO is ready to maintain security during the two major events of Panagbenga,” Tagel said. Maj. James Dogao, of the Traffic Management Unit, said that all traffic personnel and enforcers will also be deployed from around the parade route, to the outskirt areas to ensure smooth traffic flow. Dogao said, like during the opening parade, they have implemented rerouting schemes using circumferential roads to avoid passing through the central district area, while the parade is underway. “We once again call on residents and tourists who are watching the parade to not use vehicles to go to the area, but instead to find parking areas away from the CBD,” Dogao said. By Zaldy Comanda