Grand Opening Parade, Landscape Exhibition, Market Encounter!
After a three-year break brought on by the pandemic, the magnificent Panagbenga Festival will resume on February 1, 2023 with the Opening parade starting at at 8 in the morning.
The parade starts at the Panagbenga Park and will go through the city’s main street – The full length of Session Road, then a quick left on Magsaysay ave make another left at Harrison Road, a right at Abad Santos Drive, and terminating at the Melvin Jones football grounds. That’s a total; of 3 kilometers of road so a lot of space to view the parade.
As is customary, The Philippine Military Academy Marching Band will lead the parade and the Saint Louis University High School and College marching band will follow about a 3rd of the parade.
Eight cultural performance groups are expected to participate :
- 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
- Igorot Treasure International and Benguet TV Cultural Group
3 elementary school Drum and Lyre groups are expected:
- Baguio Central School
- Dona Josefa Carino Elementary School
- Lucban elementary school
You might catch a glimpse of some important people of the city but do not expect to see national celebrities or big floats. Those come later in the month – specifically February 25. Which is the Grand street DANCE Parade were you will see more cultural presentations and dance entries. The Grand Float Parade will be the climax of the festival on the 26th of February.
February 1 also opens the
PANAGBENGA Scapes; a professional landscaping competition and exhibition.
There are 18 entries of the professional landscaping competition You can see them at The Melvin Jones football grounds. This is for the open or freestyle category and the sidewalk of the Juan Luna Drive for the vertical landscaping category.
Participants to the professional landscaping competition:
- Larry Hacoco
- Elpidio Ngohayon
- Noel Buhong
- Christine Palongyas
- Raymund Palongyas
- Rosaldo Gallema
- Saturnina Hilario
- Judith Asan
- Lina Tindongan
- Jose Acosta
- Luisa Comicho
- Analiza Acosta
- Ma Luisa Pat-ogan
- Valencia Butale
- Aguida Dayawen
- Roy Roger Lang ay
- Shierla Gay Ruben
- Agustina Felimon
Participating associations for the landscape competition are:
- Panagbenga Landscaping Association Inc.
- Wood Rock and Flowers Group.
These exhibitions run until the end of the festival on March 5 but we encourage you to see these displays early so you get the fresh look of newly finished work as they tend to deteriorate over time.
I would suggest bringing your camera to take some photos of the exhibits.
Also starting February 1 is BAGUIO BLOOMS: A market encounter.
These are for all the shopping fans out there! Vendors will line up Juan Luna Drive and Skateboard area, Lake Drive Burnham Park. Endless possibilities of what will be available but there will be a food section so you won’t get hungry shopping.
As for the rest of the month, here Here is a snapshot of the rest of the activities for the festival. Check the links in the comments below as we create more videos about the upcoming events.
That’s our sneak peek of the opening day of the Panagbenga Festival. We hope you’re excited for the upcoming event as much as we are. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for February 1st and join us in the streets of Baguio City for a colorful celebration. See you at the Panagbenga Festival!”
