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Season of blooming: Discovering Baguio's Panagbenga Festival photo by Randy Bautista (via Flickr)

Season of blooming: Discovering Baguio's Panagbenga Festival

by : Becky Johnson posted :

The Panagbenga Festival, also called the Baguio Flower Festival, is a month-long celebration of everything floral and is worth including in your Philippine tour planning.The City of Baguio is famously known by two nicknames: the "Summer Capital of the Philippines" and the "City of Pines." Sprawling throughout the Luzon tropical pine forest, and at an elevation of 1500 meters (4900 feet), it's easy to understand why both nicknames are perfect to describe this city, and why it's so popular with tourists. But Baguio is also famous for its resilience. In 1990, a massive earthquake devastated the Luzon region, and Baguio was one of the most ravaged cities. In the aftermath, the people of Baguio were looking for a way to rebuild, not just from the physical effects of the quake, but also to rebuild the city's spirit. Thus the Panagbenga festival was born in 1995.

Parade at Panagbenga photo by Randy Bautista (via Flickr)
Parade at Panagbenga

Season of blooming

Panagbenga is an indigenous Kankana-ey word which means "Season of Blooming," and the spirit of the city has blossomed along with the festival, soon to be celebrating its 23rd year. Opening ceremonies happen on February 1st, and a series of large and small events are planned all throughout the month, ending with a bang (literally with fireworks), in early March.

Flowers and music and parades...Oh my!

The largest and most famous of the events occurs towards the end of February. The Baguio Blooms Exposition opens early in the festival, and remains open throughout, so there is plenty of time to catch the exhibits, which should definitely be on your list. The other two major events are parades that happen back-to-back, and are a "must-see" for visitors. The first is the Grand Street Parade. This parade fills the streets of Baguio with dancers in gloriously colorful costumes, and often holding flowers. The music, costumes, and dances will take your breath away. The second parade is the Grand Float Parade. Very similar to the famous Rose Bowl Parade in California, the Grand Float Parade features a variety of large and small parade floats, covered with flowers. Marching bands and other musicians also march along in the parade. Although crowds can be a little chaotic, Session Road has the best parade views, so get there early!

Float at Panagbenga photo by Randy Bautista (via Flickr)
Float at Panagbenga

Something for everyone

There are formally planned events and community events throughout this month long celebration. Some of the typical events are a golf tournament, a skateboarding competition, a pageant to crown Mr. and Ms. Panagbenga, music shows, street food, and more. The 2018 schedule of events has not been posted, but you can get an idea of what to look forward to, and plan your itinerary by checking out the 2017 Event Schedule. Also, plan for temperate weather on the cooler side, ranging from 15-26° celsius (59-78°), with a chance for rain, so pack your umbrella.

You can experience the beauty of the Panagbenga Festival, including the lush City of Baguio, as a side trip from one of Uncharted Philippines' adventures in the Cordillera region. Discover the magic of the Philippines for yourself.

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