THE brewing television war among a number of giant networks will be one of the highlights of the grand float parade from Upper Session road up to the Melvin Jones football field this coming Sunday.
Local television stars Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza will be riding the GMA 7 float while Bea Alonzo and Enchong Dee will be riding the float of ABS-CBN.
Various Kapuso stars will be celebrating the flower festival with their fans on February 26, while ABS-CBN will be having their Kapamilya Day with their local stars on Saturday, March 4 at the Melvin Jones grandstand.
2016 Miss International titlist Kaylie Versoza, who is a native of Baguio City, will be riding the float of Pepsi Cola during the float parade.
Evangeline Payno, chief of staff of the Panagbenga Executive Committee, said some of the participating companies fielding their own floats preferred to keep their artist guests as a surprise to the public as added excitement.
Of the 22 participating floats, 10 were classified as large floats, nine are small while the float of the City Government of Baguio, Baguio Country Club and SM City Baguio are non-competing floats.
Both Baguio Country Club and SM City Baguio are Hall of Fame awardees in the grand float parade, one of the major highlights of the flower festival.
The small floats include ASUS Philippines, Brandboss Inc. (Coca-cola), International Press Center and Asia-Pacific Theological Seminary, Lubao International Balloon Festival, Maybank Phils., Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), Valley Bread, Wedding Memories, and Wellmade Manufacturing.
On the other hand, the big floats will be presented by ABS—CBN, Department of Tourism, GMA Network Inc., International Pharmaceutical Inc., Jollibee Foods Corporation., M. Lhullier Phils., Manila North Tollways Corporation, Pepsi Cola Products Philippines Inc., Sitel Phils. Corp., and Taloy Norte Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative.
Payno said there were supposed to be 24 floats that will participate but two entries have to withdraw because of alleged internal concerns that were not immediately addressed.
Freddie Alquiroz, co-chairman of the Panagbenga Executive Committee, said the limited number of float makers in the city has reportedly hindered a number of companies interested to join the float parade because there is no longer sufficient time for them to prepare quality floats in time for the float parade this weekend.
While there were some companies that were not able to join the float parade this year, Payno said there were some companies that came back for the promotion of their new products and some companies decided to sustain their participation in the float parade in support to the flower festival.
She said organizers made sure that the floats were of good quality even if they are few. (Dexter See/PIO)