THE physical set-up for the Panagbenga 2010 Market Encounter starts this Sunday, January 24, with the closure of Jose Abad Santos Drive at Burnham Park.
This was presented to the City Council by Anthony de Leon of the Baguio Flower Festival Incorporated (BFFI) Executive Committee, and was approved for implementation, as with other measures for the success of the festival.
The BFFI is all geared up for Panagbenga 2010, according to de Leon, also the General Manager of the Baguio Country Club.
Panagbenga 2010 was launched last November, opens with a grand parade on February 1 and goes on with activities; street dancing parade on February 27, float and band parade on February 28, and the closing and awards program on March 7.
It would be a larger festival, a five-week endeavor, de Leon added, with a need for "wide exposure, considering the setbacks wrought by the past typhoons."
Living up to the theme, "Celebrating Fifteen years of Festival Excellence," the festival shall have more surprises and novel activities, de Leon also said.
Burnham Lake shall not only be awash with lights this February but also serve as stage for Shakespeare's play "Camelot."
Ibaloi day on February 23 shall also be a first, with the approval of an ordinance for the purpose. The Benguet Ibalois' Bendian served as the rhythm for the Panagbenga theme, as composed by SLU bandmaster Macario Fronda.
During the session, the councilors gave their observations on lapses during the past flower festival, with de Leon and Camp John Hay's Freddie Alquiroz assurance that these will be noted, as not to be repeated this year.
The number of stalls at the Market Encounter, from the more than 400 shall now be limited to 290. Selling at the Jose Abad Santos drive shall be done on the concrete pavement only, they said.
Subleasing of stall for the Market Encounter which has been observed, shall not go unchecked. Those who sublease and those with sanitation problems shall be warned accordingly, with a penalty from the refundable security deposit earlier collected from lease holders.
As to cigarettes-sponsored booths at the Session Road in Bloom and liquor being dispensed at other venues, de Leon and Alquiroz said these shall be regulated and prohibited as to the city ordinance.
The Legarda Businessmen shall also be consulted as to their concerns noted during the past festival and closure of Legarda road, the duo said.
The loading and unloading of victory buses at Baguio Convention Center parking area shall be allowed during the opening, street and float parades, it was learned.
Session road shall also be closed on January 26, midnight, up to 1 pm of January 27 for the street parade, while for the float parade; it shall be closed on January 27 at midnight up to 1 pm, January 28.
No other trade fairs shall be allowed on Governor Pack, Mabini st., and Bayanihan, as these shall be used as emergency exits on March 1 to 7, during the Session road in Bloom.
Councilor Erdolfo Balajadia also emphasized that the lease holders should clearly stipulate what would be sold in their stalls.
Guidelines are already in place for the Market Encounter and Session Road in Bloom, de Leon and Alquiroz committed themselves to the conditions set.
Warnings as to fake officials on trade fair were already published, de Leon said.
In ending, Councilor Nicasio Palaganas expressed his desire that landscape winners should be replicated in city parks and gardens. (Julie G. Fianza)