Monday, January 23, 2006
Benguet exec rues 'divided' flowerfest
By Jane Cadalig
THE two rival groups quarreling over the management of the Baguio City's 11th Panagbenga staging are disgracing the affair, a Benguet official said.
Provincial Board (PB) Member Aloysius Kato expressed dismay on the lingering squabble between the "two Panagbenga factions," saying the dispute has ruined the very essence of the festival.
"Flower is supposed to be a symbol of unity, but with what is happening right now, the flower festival has lost its beauty and significance. The fight of the two factions in the city is doing disgrace to the wisdom of the festival," Kato said.
"It (flower festival) expresses something beautiful and peaceful in more than 1,000 adjectives. Unfortunately, the (Panagbenga) faction has more than 1,000 adjectives to attack each other," he added.
A conciliation between the Baguio Panagbenga Flower Festival Association (BPFFA), sanctioned by Mayor Braulio Yaranon and chaired by businesswoman Nelia Cid, and the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation (BFFF), supported by Baguio City Representative Mauricio Domogan and headed by lawyer Damaso Bangaoet Jr, to come up with a unified schedule of activities for the Panagbenga celebration is yet to be realized.
Opening ceremonies for the mayor-led affair is set on January 30.
Kato earlier raised concern over the Panagbenga skirmish, saying it has caused confusion on the part of the cutflower growers in Benguet, who are now in a dilemma on whether or not to supply the city with flowers for the festival.
Due to the prevailing situation, the PB also decided not to participate in the affair as members are confused on whose group's activities will they be attending.
Kato said they could not afford to support a divided affair. "How can we attend in the context of division? We do not want to be identified to any group, (thus, the decision not to be involved)," he said.
He said the province's legislative body, through Vice Governor Crescencio Pacalso, will raise its official stand before the Office of Governor Borromeo Melchor, who earlier said the province will be participating in the flower festival.
(January 23, 2006 issue)
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