Panagbenga 2018 is one to look out for! Last year, Jeyrick Sigmaton a.k.a. Carrot Man came home to Baguio after being an internet sensation. AlDub Maine Mendoza and Alden Richard made sure that Baguio feels their love. Bea Alonzo tags Enchong Dee with her on a float. Miss International 2016 Kylie Versoza proved she was worthy of the title queen. Jericho Rosales was in awe of Baguio and started shooting photos for himself. Asi Taulava, a basketball player, was also there. Not on a float, but on the road. He was shaking hands with people he sees along Session Road. Who are we expecting this year?
A lot of people were in the same place at once. You can’t help but squeeze yourself through arms and legs. But the satisfaction you would get if you get a perfect photo is priceless. It is fulfilling to know that you already have a photo that would work best for an article that you would write. A story worth telling is a story you got from hard work. I didn’t know anyone from the crowd but I manned-up and asked questions from strangers. I found out how a lot of different people were in the same place celebrating one festival.
In this year’s Panagbenga, the theme centers on the “Celebration of Culture and Creativity.” The city was recently called a “creative city” by UNESCO. This promotes the City of Baguio to push its limits more and prove that we are worthy of the title. This year, most of the events focus more on the maximization of the arts. Baguio has a lot of local artists and this year, everyone will get their shot at the spotlight. Recent events were exhibits in Malcolm Square and Melvin Jones Grandstand. The City Government of Baguio still has a lot of plans in store for the locals and tourists as well.
Panagbenga 2018 among the ‘stars’ again?
Panagbenga 2017: ‘Inspired by Beauty, Nurtured by Nature.’
Growing up from the lowlands would mean not experiencing Panagbenga first-hand. What saves me is the television we have at home; televising the famous flower festival. A few years later, becoming a Baguio local is the most fulfilling feeling ever.
It’s Sunday morning and the need to stand up from the bed is urgent. There are things that you don’t do but have to do. This is one of those things; waking up to mornings. It’s still dark outside. No light has seeped through the curtains that could only contain minimal brightness. There was stretching and doing things that may cause veins to transport blood in the whole body. Today is Panagbenga. It’s a weekend that happens only once a year.
Panagbenga’s Grand Float Parade is one of Baguio’s highlight events. In here, trucks dressed in flowers parade down Session Road. You can see an artist’s vision of how the theme gets played on the floats. It’s magical, to say the least. Sometimes, it’s more than flowers and themes on floats. If you’re lucky enough, Philippines’ most sought-after artists are on floats too.