Bayan: Happy Panagbenga and Search for Huwarang Pamilya 2012

Thursday, February 9, 2012

FEBRUARY 1 marked the opening of the most prestigious festive event of the City of Baguio, the 2012 Panagbenga. The grandeur annual staging of the Panagbenga every February of the year has earned the City of Baguio prestige in the tourism industry as such event can draw thousands and thousands of spectators from all over the country and from foreign lands as well. This year’s theme is “Community Convergence for a Sustainable Tourism Growth”, which delivers an important message to the community in taking part in the advancement of the city’s aims and goals.

Convergence by definition is the act of converging and especially moving toward union or uniformity. This gives out an inspiration in arriving at a solution, which is for the community to work together for a common goal. In gauging the tourism aspect of a city, it must not be limited to what tourist destinations the city can offer such as historical landmarks, green scenery and various products; concerns on the cleanliness, safety and peace and order all play an important role. Following the formation of the Barangay Tourism Councils, it must be imbibed within these councils that cleanliness, safety and peace and order are important factors in determining a successful tourism growth. It would be logical that a clean environment and surroundings would be appreciated by visiting tourists. Moreover, a person planning to go on a trip would think first of his or her safety before proceeding to a certain destination. Hence, not only must the responsibility of maintaining a clean and safe environment be lodged in the hands of the city government through the police and other agencies, and the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI), but to the entire community as well, including the barangays who have the direct contact with its constituency.

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The February 1 opening day parade attended to by city government officials, the BFFFI, along with contingents, the private sector, the business community, the barangays, and a lot of other personalities in the city is but a start to the month-long activity. Highlights of the Panagbenga 2012 celebration includes the Market Encounter at Burnham Park (Feb. 1 – March 4), “Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom” at Melvin Jones (February 12), “Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio” at Burnham Park (February 12), Fluvial Float Parade at Burnham Lake (February 12), the Grand Street Dancing Parade from Panagbenga Park to Athletic Bowl (February 25), the Grand Float Parade from the Panagbenga Park to Athletic Bowl (February 26), Session Road in Bloom (Feb. 27 – March 4), Pony Boys Day at the Athletic Bowl (March 2) and the Panagbenga Closing Ceremonies and Grand Fireworks Display at the Baguio Athletic Bowl on March 4. There are also other community-led activities and events as well.

Each and every one is invited to take part in the celebration. Happy Panagbenga everyone.

Along with the Panagbenga activities are other activities initiated by the City Government of Baguio. Apart from the ongoing Lupon Tagapamayapa Incentive Awards (LTIA), the deadline for the submission of the letter of intent is on February 15, 2012. The Search for Huwarang Pamilya for 2012 is likewise now open for interested participants. All those interested may proceed to the City Social Welfare and Development Office for the forms and the guidelines of the said search. The barangays are enjoined to endorse or refer only one family within their respective barangays which means that should there be more than one family in a barangay who is qualified in the search, it is up to the punong barangay to make the needed screening so as to determine who among the two families are more qualified to take part in the city-wide search. For further queries, the barangays may directly coordinate with the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Office. The deadline of submission of entries will be on June 29, 2012.