THE weekend will once again put Baguio City into the limelight as the annual festival displays its grandeur with blooms and song.
Twenty–one contingents will parade the streets on Saturday for the Grand Street Dance Parade Competition, while 19 floats bedecked with the freshest of blooms will be displayed over the weekend for the 22nd Edition of the Baguio Flower Festival.
Themed "Inspired By Beauty, Nurtured By Nature," the parades kick off atop Session Road with the display of the Panagbenga banners followed by the Philippine Military Academy and officials of the city, region and guests.
For the elementary schools division, performers will compete for P150,000; P130,000; P110,000; P80,000; P60,000; P40,000; and P30,000 cash prize. Participants are from Camp 6, Dominican Mirador, Josefa Cariño, Jose P. Laurel, Baguio Central School, Emilio Aguinaldo, Pinget, Apolinario Mabini and Doña Aurora.
For the high school division, prizes are pegged at P100,000; P70,000; P50,000 with a consolation prize of P30,000. Entries are from Pinsao National High School, Saint Louis University Laboratory, Pines City National High School and the Baguio City National High School are slated to out dance each other.
In the open division, contingents from the region and Luzon will compete for P130,000; P100,000; P80,000 and four consolation prize of P30,000 each. The competing groups are from the Lubuagen Performing Group, Cholibes Cultural Ensemble, Virac Itogon (VES Drum and Lyre Corps), Manaoag National High School Drum and Lyre Corps, Pugo Catholic School, The “Chows” of Santa Maria De Bethania Marching Show Band, Madaymen Drum and Lyre and the Ayoweng Di Gangsa group.
Floats for Sunday's parade will be comprised of competing and non competing entries with close to P1 million up for grabs for top winners.
Entries for small float category will get P150,000; P120,000; P100,000 and competing for the prestige and prize are contingents from Asus Philippines, Brandboss Inc. (Coca Cola), the International Praise Center and Asia Pacific Theological Seminary, Lubao International Balloon Festival, Maybank Phils., Philippine Retirement Authority, Valley Bread, Wedding Memories, and Wellmade Manufacturing.
For the big float category prizes are pegged at P250,000; P180,000; and P150,000 for top winners and competing entries are from ABS-CBN, Department Of Tourism, GMA Network Inc, International Pharmaceutical Inc., Jollibee, M. Lhullier Phils, Manila North Tollways Corporation, Pepsi Cola Products Philippines Inc., Sitel Phils Corp and Taloy Cooperative.