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Saturday, February 08, 2003
Artists call 'a thousand flowers' to bloom
By Ramon Dacawi
ARTISTS of all ages will take over the second week-end of the city's festival of flowers Saturday to capture the season of blossoming with the "Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom" day-long painting contest at the Melvin Jones grandstand.
As of Friday, City Engineer Leo Bernardez, co-chair of the art event with Councilor Richard Cariņo and Timmy Tenedero, said hundreds of artists are expected to portray the spirit of the festival in 700 canvases during eight hours of work starting at 8:00 this morning.
The top 100 entries in the painting explosion sponsored by Boysen will be mounted on poles to banner the grand parade of the festival set on Feb. 22, Bernardez said. The rest will be installed in strategic areas of the city to add to the festive mood of the month-long celebration of Baguio's distinction as a flower garden city.
Over at the Salud Bistro, versatile artist Peter Pinder, whose chess set depicting national political figures in the EDSA People Power Revolution recently caught media attention, will also open his multi-media works.
At 6:00 a.m., Mayor Bernardo Vergara and Rep. Mauricio Domogan, together with Damaso Bangaoet Jr., and Jay Sobrepena of Camp John Hay, will lead some 140 local and visiting golfers in the 18-hole Flower Tee Golf at the John Hay fairways.
"We were pleasantly surprised by the big number of entries in this fun tournament," said Public Utilities and Services Officer head Engr. Oscar Flores who chairs the sports event with Councilor Federico Mandapat and Ryan Pantaleon.
Panagbenga, as the festival has been dubbed after an Igorot term meaning "season of blossoming," was declared open by Mayor Vergara on Feb. 1 following a parade and program. "Since ints inception in 1995, Panagbenga has evolved into a well-loved and most sought-after festival that showcases not only the variety of flowers innate to Baguio's landscape but more importantly the rich and unique culture of the Cordillera people."
Rep. Mauricio Domogan, on the other hand, said that aside from being a tourism come-on, the festival demonstrates the teamwork and unity of residents of Baguio in celebrating the God-given beauty of this highland resort.
Next Saturday, Panagbenga shifts to the Burnham Lake Flowerfest featuring boat rowing and fluvial parade being arranged by Councilor Braulio Yaranon, former Councilor Nars Padilla and City Assessor Ester Tano.
Also on tape are, the "Ta Rupam in Motion" featuring the mask designs of EV Espiritu, and presentations by the Baguio Colleges Foundation at the Malcolm Square.
Next Sunday has been reserved for a mass aerobics exercise by the Department of Health at the Athletic Bowl and a medical mission sponsored by the Baguio Officials' Spouses Foundation at the Malcolm Square.
Other main features will be the street dancing and parade on Feb. 22, the parade of floats on Feb. 23, Pony Boys Day on March 1 and the closing ceremony on March 2. |
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