Wednesday, January 24, 2007 More flowerfest activities set
PANAGBENGA 2007 will be launched on February 1 with a street parade and opening program along the main thoroughfares, and later, the drum and lyre and street dancing eliminations for elementary participants to be done at the Melvin Jones football field.
The 12th edition of the Baguio Flower Festival (BFF) is expected to lure local and foreign tourists to the city for the month-long flower festivities, as even the traffic number coding scheme for private vehicles has been suspended for the period, and beyond.
The main events include the barangay beautification and school-based activities, which start February 1 until March 4, with landscaping and flower arrangement contests.
One of the most-awaited activities, the market encounter is tentatively set on February 3 to March 4, with landscaping exhibits, carpet of flowers, flower products, food outlets, cultural programs, fashion shows, musical presentations, flower-related demonstrations and lectures. An international trade fair and Mindanao products bazaar will also showcase distinctive wares, tentatively set within the Burnham Park, also from February 3 to March 4.
A competition for the best-decorated tourism-oriented establishment will also be launched by the tourism department during the festival.
The proposed permanent Panagbenga Park will also be launched on February 23 at Upper Session Road. The park is for consistent winners for the past years in the flower festival landscape contests, to be permanently maintained as part of the city's parks.
The most-awaited grand festival parade and street dancing as participated in by the city's elementary and secondary schools, local organizations, and visiting contingents countrywide will be featured on February 24. In the evening, fireworks will light up the skies.
Following the grand parade is the float and marching band competitions on the morning of February 25. Session Road in Bloom, another traditional event, is scheduled from February 26 to March 4, as Session Road will be closed to traffic to accommodate flower and flower product stalls. Sidewalk cafes and food outlets will be set up along the city's main road. Selected entertainers will also perform in different areas of the road, as a flower festivity bazaar will be done at the People's Park.
The closing ceremonies is tentatively set on March 4 at the Baguio Athletic Bowl where ground demonstrations, exhibitions, and awarding of winning entries will be done. A fireworks display will be featured to cap the event.
The forerunner of all the activities, the traditional "Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom" painting activity will be done on a date to be announced later as another painting contest -- "Flowers of Baguio" -- will be done at Abanao square from January 28 to February 17.
Other exhibits are Tahong Bundok paintings in bloom exhibit at the SM City exhibit center on February 1-7; and the Baguio Art Galleria painting exhibit at the Baguio Convention Center (BCC) on February 1 to March 4.
The Best of Panagbenga 2007 photo contest as organized by the Benguet Press Corps (BPC) and the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) will also be done from February 1 to March 4.
Local flower shops will also be their month-long exhibition at the nursery area at Camp John Hay (CJH) from February 1 to March 4.
Other activities being lined-up are sports central and Sandugo team Everest mall expedition at SM City Baguio exhibit center on February 1-3; samiweng -- concert with Kitchie Nadal -- at BCC on February 3; Aloha Hula Hawaii dance recital at SM City Baguio event center on February 4; little singing star season 2 at the Abanao Square food court on February 3, 10, 17, 24, and 25; and basketball cup on February 4 to March 31 to be played in various gymnasiums within Baguio.
Other events, all to be done at the SM City Atrium are landscaping competition on February 5 to 9; Baguio's best brew coffee festival on February 12 to 14; Star Struck: "Date with Stars," on February 14; and Dance Mania Studio One on February 16-18.
Floral fantasy fashion show parade will be done with the market encounter on February 16, tentatively at the Skating Rink area while a medical mission is set at the BCC on the same date.
Other fashions shows are the "Weddings Made in Heaven and Santacruzan" at the Baguio Cathedral and Session Road on February 23 and the Mr. and Ms. Fashionista at the BCC on February 24.
Malcolm Square will be the venue for the Arnis Invitational Tournament on February 18, as with a "paligsawit" on February 16 and 24, and flower jam on February 23.
Creative individuals may find outlets in bleaching their jeans at an art contest at the SM City Atrium on February 20 to 21.
Other activities tentatively booked for the 12th edition of Panagbenga are "Handog ng Bombo Radyo" at the Melvin Jones Foot ball field on February 24; K-lite in Bloom at SM City Central Park on February 24; Weddings Made in Heaven bridal fair at the Multi-Purpose Hall, BCC on February 23-25; boxing classic at BCC on February 25; dance festival at BCC on February 26; Campus Radio bulaklak rock band competition at the Melvin Jones football field on March 2; San Miguel and Abanao Square concert street party on March 2, 3, and 4; Baguio pets in bloom at SM City NBS area on February 3; Musar Music piano recital at the SM City Atrium on March 3; Love Radio activity at the Melvin Jones football field on March 3 and 4; electric party at CJH on March 3; as well as the closing party with Kamikazee at SM Rambakan drive on March 4.
Other flower-related activities being planned by the John Hay Management and BCC are the first Baguio open ballroom dance sport championship, tee golf tournament, and plastic molders society exhibit with dates to be announced later.
Other events would also be scheduled through the Paangbenga secretariat, City Tourism Office (CTO) at 442-1006 to 7. (JF)
