panagbenga 2011

Panagbenga is a month-long annual flower festival occurring in Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines.^[1] The term is of Malayo-Polynesian origin, meaning "season of blooming".^[1] The festival, held during the month of February, was created as a tribute to the city's flowers and as a way to rise up from the devastation of the 1990 Luzon earthquake.^[2] The festival includes floats that are decorated with flowers unlike those used in Pasadena's Rose Parade. The festival also includes street dancing, presented by dancers clad in flower-inspired costumes, that is inspired by the Bendian, an Ibaloi dance of celebration that came from the Cordillera region.^[3]
Aside from economic boosts from tourism, the festival also helped the younger generation of indigenous people to rediscover their culture's old traditions. The indigenous people was first wary with government-led tourism because of the threat that they will interfere or change their communities' rituals...

The Panagbenga Festival, formerly as the Baguio Flower Festival, was formed in 1995 as the brainchild of Attorney Damaso Bangaoet Jr. of the John Hay Poro Point Development Corporation (JPDC) and Victor A. Lim of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA).^[3] Entries from the annual Camp John Hay art contest gave its official logo: a spray of sunflowers. The festival was set in February to boost tourism as it was considered as a month of inactivity between the busy days of Christmas season and the Holy Week and the summer season.^[5]
In 1996, archivist and curator Ike Picpican suggested that the festival be renamed as Panagbenga, a Kankanaey term that means "a season of blossoming, a time for flowering".

Schedule of events

• Opening parade

Date: February 1

Venue: Session Road and Melvin Jones Grounds.

The parade signals the start of the Panagbenga. This will be participated by a representative contingent of volunteers. The parade will be followed by a short opening program, together with competitions between drum and lyre including street dancing contingent among elementary students.

• Trade Fair and Bazaar

Date: First Saturday of February until First Sunday of March

Venue: Burnham Park

• Grand Festival Parade and Street Dancing Competition

Date: Fourth Saturday of February

Venue: Session Road up to Melvin Jones Grounds

• Float and Marching Band Competitions

Date: Fourth Sunday of February

Venue: Session Road up to Melvin Jones Grounds

The parade opens with a shower of rose petals along Session Road while marching bands played lively tunes that sets the mode for the parade. Colourful costumes and lively dance numbers come next followed by cleverly- crafted, vibrant and multicoloured floats made entirely from flowers of every kind.

• Session Road in Bloom

Date: Fourth Monday of February until First Sunday of March

Venue: Session Road

Flower and related stalls together with side walk cafés and food outlets shall be set-up along Session Road that will be closed to vehicles during the occasions. Street and musical entertainers shall be performing in selected areas in Session Road. This activity shall be organized and managed by the tourism sector of the city.

• Closing ceremonies

Date: First Sunday of March

Venue: Athletic Bowl

Field demonstrations and other exhibitions shall be featured. A fitting and appropriate closing ceremony program will formally end the festival followed by a fireworks display in the evening.