Sunday, February 29, 2004
Grand program to cap Panagbenga

THE ninth Baguio Flower Festival closes Sunday with a grand program capping the month-long staging of colorful floral events set at 8:30 a.m. at the Baguio Athletic Bowl.

Mayor Bernardo Vergara said the program, which will feature colorful floral field demonstrations and concerts, will serve as tribute to the successful conduct of the Panagbenga.

Vergara called the event a success with the huge turnout of visitors, particularly during last weekend's street-dancing and floral float parades.

He attributed the feat to schoolchildren who braved the heavy rain during the parade. He said teamwork and cooperation of both public and private individuals and groups also made the event a success.

The mayor will open Sunday's program, while Rep. Mauricio Domogan will deliver a message.

This will be followed by a silent drill by the Philippine Military Academy and a field demonstration featuring native dances to be performed by contingents from the Baguio City National High School (BCNHS), Pines City National High School (PCNHS), and Irisan National High School.

One of the highlights of the program will be the awarding of winners in the various Panagbenga events, particularly the Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom, elementary street dancing with drum and lyre Open, college and high school street dancing, high school and college marching bands and float parade.

At 12:00 p.m. the ceremonial lowering of flags will follow to signify the formal closure of the festival.

Programs in the afternoon include concerts from 1 to 6 p.m. which will feature various local artists: Joaquin and the Sound Waves Band, a group of differently-abled musicians, the University of Baguio (UB) dance troupe and marching band concert featuring bands from UB, the BCNHS, PCNHS, SLU Laboratory High School and the Saint Louis University.

Participants to the Panagbenga dancesport will also perform, to be followed by an arnis exhibition.

A fireworks display will close the event at 7 p.m., followed by a nightcap featuring yet another concert sponsored by the Star FM Bombo Radyo. Aileen Refuerzo