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Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Arroyo, SEA Games gold medallists invited to Panagbenga
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and gold medal winners in the recently concluded Southeast Asian (SEA) Games have been asked to adorn the opening of the Panagbenga 2006 on January 30.
As this developed, Baguio City Mayor Braulio Yaranon said support has been snowballing for the festival as more companies and personalities, including the officialdom of the Province of Benguet, continue to pledge cooperation for the undertaking which goes by the theme: "Celebrating the Best of Baguio (Sa atin ito! Kasama ka na. Kasali ka pa.)".
"The (Panagbenga is) an institutionalized tourism activity of Baguio City and the Cordilleras, which emphasizes the role of the region as the principal flower and strawberry growing area and further showcases the culture and tradition of the different ethnic components and the inter-mingling thereof with the mainstream Filipino culture and tradition," Yaranon noted in his invitation to athletes addressed to Robert Aventajado of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
"May I extend the invitation, on behalf of the City of Baguio and the Baguio community that own and stage the tourism activity," the mayor said.
He later told the media that he earlier extended his invitation to the President in one of their meetings during her recent vacation to the city.
The event will be formally opened with a program and parade starting at the Rizal Park at 9 a.m. It will feature the "Ipitik," a tapuey (native rice wine) tasting activity with prayers soliciting God's blessing on the festivities, inauguration of multi-colored lights at the Burnham Park and opening fireworks display. At 6 p.m., the city will inaugurate the multi-colored lights at the Lakeside Burnham Park to be followed by the opening fireworks display at the Melvin Jones grandstand.
Panagbenga activities began with the home and salad garden contests, launching of school-based landscaping contest from Dec. 5, 2005 to Jan. 28, 2006. The Chinese New Year celebration or Spring Festival on January 27-28 was included in the Panagbenga calendar it being another important tourism and city activity.
On January 29, the "Paint-It-With Flowers" banner-painting contest will kick off from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Burnham Skating Rink. On February 4-5, the Cultural Chinese Arts and Craft trade show will be staged at the People's Park.
The second week will witness the following activities: Floral Expressions or Market Encounter at the Melvin Jones, February 6-March 20; Filipino-Japanese Friendship Festival on February 10-March 10 at the People's Park; Fun at Fairyland on February 11-12 at the Children's Playground.
The elimination round for the street dancing and drum and lyre competition is set on February 11 at the Athletic Bowl while "Bulaklak sa Langit" fireworks display competition will be done on February 12, also at the Athletic Bowl.
The third week will feature the following: ballroom dancing for senior citizens and country garden serenades acoustic nights, both on February 14, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. at the Skating Rink; cultural Korean trade show series Korean arts and crafts on February 17, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the People's Park; boxing tournament on February 17, 6 p.m. at the Athletic Bowl; woodstock revisited rhythm from the 1970s concert at the Burnham Park Skating Rink on February 18, 7 p.m.-11 p.m.; "Palarong Pinoy" featuring various indigenous games at the Athletic Bowl on February 18-19.
Fourth week activities include a series of Victory Liner-sponsored activities as follows: medical mission on February 20, tree planting on February 21, and Igorot Dance on February 24 at the Victory New Terminal. The main crowd-drawer, the grand parade and streetdancing competition dubbed "Flower Power" will fire off at 8 a.m. along Session Road to the Athletic Bowl.
At 6 p.m., the "Bulaklak" rock battle of the bands and acoustic concert series will be staged at the Skating Rink. The float parade and marching band competition dubbed "Flowers on the Go" follows on February 26 at 8 a.m. A fireworks display, concert and variety shows will be staged in the evening at the Athletic Bowl, Skating Rink and Sunshine Park, respectively.
The fifth week will be the opening of the "Flowers R in Session Trade Fair" Session Road Cafes from February 27 to March 5, 7 a.m. to 12 midnight. Floral odds and ends local arts scene will be on February 27 to March 12, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the People's Park, while the Sunflower Rodeo Pony Boys' Exhibition at the Wright Park will be on March 5, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On March 11, a kite festival will be staged at the Athletic Bowl.
Activities will wind up with the "Gabi ng Pasasalamat" closing and awarding night set March 12, 6 p.m. at the Melvin Jones grandstand.
The Panagbenga executive committee is chaired by businessman Nelia Cid and co-chaired by Bishop Carlito Cenzon with the following as members: Cecille Afable as events and programs in-charge; Peter Ng, ways and means in-charge; and lawyer Wilbert Tan of Fortun, Narvasa and Salazar law office as legal counsel; and the City Administrator's Office (CAO) as focal point of support to the ad hoc committee. (AR)
(January 17, 2006 issue)
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