Baguio kicks off Panagbenga Festival

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The sweet smell of flowers filled the air as the annual Baguio Flower Festival or Panagbenga officially started yesterday morning with an initial glimpse of what is expected to happen within this month.

A mardi gras and a street dancing activity joined by hundreds of revelers in flower-designed costumes ushered in the festival mood with the ironing out of the initial differences between the private organizers and some city officials.

Schedule of Panagbenga 2014 events. More details at http://panagbengaflowerfestival.com/

A “win-win” solution was finally arrived at, Federico Alquiros, co-chairman of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation.

Alquiros, along with another co-chairman Anthony de Leon initially figured in a word war with Councilor Elmer Datuin, the city council’s tourism committee chairman, over supposed fund disbursement transparency woes.

Both parties have agreed to settle their differences, which according to Alquiros, would greatly contribute to the success for the month-long celebration themed “Inspiring the community for a greener tomorrow.”

The theme, Mayor Mauricio Domogan said, aptly answers today’s challenges on climate change.

Domogan said the festival should serve as a reminder about the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Yolanda and to take care of the environment.

 â€œThe festival should swing towards the environment. We should all be instruments in heeling the world,” he said.

“Our unity keeps inspiring us to continue,”  said Rep. Nicasio Aliping, who joined city officials in the opening parade.

As early as Thursday, Baguio’s traffic landscape worsened with revelers’ influx into the city for the festival’s opening. 

Though hotels and inns owners couldn’t give exact estimates on how many trekked to Baguio for the long weekend, the traffic gridlock particularly along the city’s main thoroughfares spoke well of the domestic tourist arrivals.