Panagbenga 2018 Grand Float Parade: A Closer Look

Baguio has done it again. It bloomed in its most colorful and lovely form as it celebrates Panagbenga 2018. It has been a weekend of lively and lovely performances from 27 Grand Street Dancing Parade participants and 23 gigantic floats with celebs like Coco Martin of FPJs Ang Probinsyano, Mikael Daez, Glaiza de Castro, Angel Aquino, Carrot Man, and Mommy Dionisia and more aboard some of them which paraded the busiest roads of Baguio City.

Panagbenga means “a season of blossoming, a time for flowering.” “The Panagbenga started with just an idea that Baguio City should, like other towns and cities in the Philippines, have it’s own “fiesta” or festival celebration.” The celebrations are held for over a month starting from the first day of February. The festival showcases many floral floats and native dances. It is also a tribute to Baguio for making a comeback after the devastating earthquake in 1990.

This year, the Grand Float Parade and Competition was held February 25. Twenty-four floats, big and small, participated in the parade which lasts for 1 hour and 5 minutes, quite faster than last year.

Panagbenga 2018 Float parade: Coco Martin, Ruru Madrid, Mikael Daez and more

Baguio City and SM Baguio

Kicking off the event are the mystic and fairy-tale like floats of the City Government of Baguio and hall of Famer SM Super malls. Their floats were designed with a representation of beautiful forests and gardens. Riding the floats are gods and goddesses together with other mythical creatures.

GMA

Not letting the people wait for too long, GMA’s float was one of the much-awaited floats in the event. Riding their float were GMA stars Megan Young, Mikael Daez, Glaiza de Castro, Jak Roberto, Ruru Madrid and Matt Evans.

Manila North Tollways Corporation (NLEX/SCTEX)

The concept of their float is tropical featuring 2 huge pineapples in the front and a huge detailed rainbow at the back. Theirs is a two-way float— the other end says “NLEX” while the other says “SCTEX.” Just like last year, PBA player joined the parade.

White Corn Float (Department of Agriculture)

The theme of the float is “to promote their advocacy for the consumption of rice-corn blend.” It features a “Kayabang” with a bountiful harvest, the traditional rice granary, and terraces of flowers. The head of a carabao in front of the float symbolizes strength, perseverance, and industry of a farmer. The float is made out of 24 kinds of flowers and real corn fruit and bundles of heirloom rice grown in the rice terraces of the Cordilleras. Riding the float are 3 well-built man wearing indigenous garments from different tribes of Cordillera and a lady wearing a Filipiniana made from corn materials.

Montanosa Pastoral Resources Corporation (Porta Vaga)

Their concept is “from a tiny seed it has grown to a big tree.” At the back of their float is a huge seed which symbolizes their concept. At the right side of the float is a miniature of the front of the Porta Vaga Mall and below it says “Porta Vaga Mall Department.” Their banning: “Envisions to be a home-grown premiere mall in Baguio City that showcases the simple yet beautiful culture of the Cordilleras. The flowers and sceneries, these are God’s gift to humanity and Porta Vaga upholds for its preservation for the next generation to enjoy.”

M Lhuillier Philippines

The float features the domestic animals dog and rooster at the front which means good luck. At the back is a native basket called “Kayabang” surrounded with flowers. This means abundance and prosperity during harvest. At the sides are colorful butterflies which means hope, life, and a new beginning. The float is 40 ft. long, 12 ft. wide and 12 ft. high, thus it is under the big float category. Riding the float is the “funny is the new pogi” and Kita-Kita star Empoy Marquez who is a new ambassador for M Lhuillier.

Jollibee 40 Years of Joy (Jollibee Foods Corporation)

The concept of the float is the 40th-anniversary celebration of Jollibee. It is the interpretation of Jollibee bringing joy to the world for the last 40 years.  At the middle of the float is a Jollibee character surrounded by flags of different countries where we can find Jollibee stores.  The backdrop are flowers in the shape of fireworks. The colors of the float are patterned to their 40th-anniversary logo. They used the flowers chrysanthemum, anthurium, Malaysian Mums, roses, sunflowers, and alstroemeria to make the float. Dancing with the 40th-anniversary theme song of Jollibee alongside the float were the famous Jollibee Food Corp. characters Jollibee, Hetty, Popo, Twirly, and Yum.

Sitel Philippines Corporation

Their concept focuses on the rich and wonderful scenery of our mountain homeland. The float showcases the fact that globalization need not tamper with age-old traditions. It is designed with a cultural village and products like flowers, “Kayabang,” and “dap-ay.” Chrysanthemum, anthurium, Malaysian Mums, roses, sunflowers, and alstroemeria are some of the flowers used for the float.

Kambal Pandesal

They are first timers in the big float category. Their concept is a typical Filipino sari-sari store and rice terraces. The flowers used are lemon pines, alstroemeria, sunflower, everlasting, and mums. Their preparation lasts for 2 weeks.

Just Love (ABS-CBN-Ang Probinsyano)

ABS-CBN’s float for this year’s celebration highlights“Just love.” They aim to spread love through their programs and services especially amidst difficult and diverse times. At the front of the float is a huge logo of ABS-CBN. At the sides are huge sunflowers. Riding the float are Ang Probinsyano stars  Coco Martin, Michael de Mesa, Angel Aquino, Lito Lapid, Jason Gainza, rappers Smugglaz and Basilyo. Flowers used for the float are red and white roses, assorted mum, anthurium, Ecuadorian roses, stargazers.

Coop

Their float features a nipa hut in the middle. Coop’s non-financial services aim to protect the Cordilleran culture and its people in general. Riding the float are 2 kids and 2 adults in Cordilleran attire symbolizing the passing of culture to the next generation. The float is made from Malaysian mums, roses, everlasting, orchids, sunflowers, snapdragon, birds of paradise, Benguet lilies, anthurium and many other flowers. Their preparation started last week.

Lubao International Balloon Festival

Their concept is a hot air balloon designed with their logo. This is to promote their Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival, the biggest hot air balloon festival in Asia. At the right side, it says “Pradera Verde,” the venue for this year’s event. The float is made out of Cyprus, anthurium, orchids, anahaw leaves.

International Praise Center/ Asia Pacific Theological Seminary

Their concept is to depict two major symbols—an anchor and a lamp which means such never failing and never-ending hope exist and Jesus gives hope. The flowers used are anthurium and Malaysian mums.

Feels Fest (Coca-cola)

Inspired by the sweet summer flowers in bloom and vivid joy of youth, the festive pattern on the float means Filipinos love for culture and diversity. It’s a feels fest to remember. The float is designed with bottle caps or tansan at the sides. It also says “Feels fest.” The flowers and materials used are chrysanthemums, anthurium, mums, flower, alstroemeria, bamboo, chicken wires, woods, steel bar, plywoods.

Universal Robina Corporation

Their concept is the famous lion head who is king in the mountains. The float is designed with the company’s famous products like the great taste muscovado sugar and cup noodles. They’ve used orchids, guzmania, stargazers, lily, bermudagrass to cover the float.  They started making the float last February 1.

Maybank Philippines Inc.

They are the last year’s winner to small float category. The tree at the back symbolizes Maybank’s commitment to helping grow and prosper the needs of its target market. The huge tiger at the middle symbolizes perseverance to overcome obstacles and courage to overcome fears. This is in line with Maybank’s mission: “humanizing financial services.”

Igorot Man

The concept of the float is “To promote Igorot man.” They believe that he can work hand in hand with the mountain province tourism in the promotion of their local potential tourist spots since he is a native in the province. As a youth and as an Igorot man that even chance of time you remain in the heart of everyone. The float was designed with a huge gong at the front and 2 birds and houses the middle. Riding the float is Jeyrick Sigmaton aka Carrot man wearing a traditional bahag. Chrysanthemums, anthuriums, and mums were used to make the float.

Palawan Pawnshop and Palawan Express Pera Padala

They are another first-timer in the event. Their concept is to serve the masang pinoy. The float is designed to be a jeepney which means the quick spread of branches across the country. It was designed with the  El Nido underground river in Palawan and the infamous Mount Mayon. At the left side are the Banaue rice terraces, a solibao, and strawberries. Riding the float is Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao, mother to Pambansang kamao Senator Manny Pacquiao and endorser of Palawan Pawnshop and Palawan Express Pera Padala.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Efficascent Relaxing Oil of IPA

They have 2 floats— one big float and 1 small competing float. Their floats are very Muslim-themed. Riding the float are an actor and an actress representing Raja Humabon and Queen Juana. Even the drummers are in Muslim clothes. The float was designed with 2 balangays. There are guards and cordon guards surrounding the entire float. Roses, sunflowers, carnation, orchids, chrysanthemum, daisies, anthurium, Malaysian mums, alstroemerias, everlasting, bromeliads were used to decorate the float.