Panagbenga 2011 Part 2: The Float Parade

The second day of the Grand Parade is the fleet of flowered floats. This is what made Panagbenga famous. Though I havent really seen the Pasadena Rose Parade, the Panagbenga Float Parade was pretty much always compared to it, with a difference i.e. the floats are made of flowers themselves, stuffed to the brim.  I learned my lesson from the previous day's streetdance. This day i came very early and travelled upstream, trying to get to where the parade should start. But, as expected, the streets are already filled with people already settled in their comfy pavement spot. So, i just looked for a nice sweet spot myself. another mental note for myself: bring my telephoto lens. Since nearer the mall, there were no ropes to hold the crowd to the sides. People just feel like going everywhere to take pictures.

Twenty five floats participated in the parade, representing government agencies, private corporations and other major sponsors.  According to the news, the floats had an accumulated cost of over Php150 M, with each float estimated to cost around Php 300,000 to Php 500,000.  Most of the cost  can be accounted from the expensive flowers used i.e. roses, anthuriums, chrysanthemum, everlasting, sunflowers, etc. Well, there are other costs because the floats also featured young and hot actors like Enchong Dee, Empress Schuck, Sam Milby, etc.  The float above is robin hood inspired escorted by the wonderful ladies (or princesses) from Bagiuo Metamorphosis which did a sort-of courtyard dance.

I didnt quite get who sponsored this float but i admired this the most because of the pretty fairy ladies. Oh, I think it belonged to Camp John Hay. All the floats depicted the need to preserve and protect the environment which showcased the spirit of the festival’s theme “The Environment and Community in Harmony”.  Another plus was that their decorations were fresh flowers as opposed to the artificial flowers used in the past festival floats...or so i heard.

Literally, the angel-like Enchong Dee looked good riding Convergy's float with the white horse beside him. Pity i am down on the ground and couldnt quite get a complete picture of the float itself, all the people were jumping up and down from their pavement seats. Sigh! next, go to higher ground! arghh!

What was more enchanting about the floats were the details and the effort that created it.  Every angle, every part had its own intricate creations, like this butterfly at the back Enchong Dee's float...i mean, Convergy's float.

This float was from La Trinidad, Benguet. Those big red formations at the top left are giant strawberries....kicked myself for noticing too late!

LBC's float are formed like a motorbike.

This butterfly belonged to the robin hood float, which also spelled out "save our forests" as shown below.

The Float of the City of Bagiuo

Here it is. True to the theme, save our forests indeed.

The Camp John Hay float, which I believe featured a lady of the forest (you think?) theme.

The MNTC, which had a horde of sexy dancing police ladies at the back. Sorry, girl here...more interested in the float I guess.

I think Coca Cola had three floats. Let's try to count. this was the first one: jeepney style!

This was the second Coke float (oops! did i just say coke float? he he). That's AJ Perez and Empress Schuck on top, two of the reasons why i couldnt get more pictures.

This float is from B-Meg, well i could guess you know why...the piggy at the back is much cuter though, but inot made of flowers.

Hmmm...if im not mistaken, this float was from the group called Assemblies of God. Next time, bring a notebook!

This float was from TV 5 obviously. what we cant see is that Empoy and JC de Vera were at the back. Too bad, i really didnt recognize them or i would have taken a shot too. Geesh, no telephoto.

This float was from SM. they had little fairies all over the float, which you wont recognize until its too late! they blended with the flowers, which i guess is more closer to reality...or fantasy. But the highlight obviously again was the big pink bunny! its the year of the rabbit anyway!

Colorful and happy Dunkin Donut float! their 30 years in business can be seen at the back. That was a donut with a bitemark....of a rabbit i presume (only two teeth! hmmm, let's ask the pink bunny)

Okay, i missed the float. Im not drunk, but this is Red Horse' float. Thats the dragonfly at the front...and a very pretty girl at the back. i wonder who she was...

Yup, rabbits are popular this year, its their year! but that's not the reason why people suddenly rushed towards this float....guessing now? sigh...its Sam Milby! i almost got run over by the bunny just trying to squeeze through the crowd to take a look. This is Samsung's float.

Well, Union Galvasteel Corp. That's what the sign said.

Mmmm....Choco Mucho! the three hour parade made people hungry by this time.

There's a lot more floats which i couldnt post, well, the best views were not from the ground I guess. and the people are just plainly uncontrollable! anyway, everybody's enchanted and pretty much starstruck so the general atmosphere was rather happy.  This last float brought it home! i heard this sort-of-an-Avatar inspired float won the contest. With the mechanical moving dragon that flapped its wing and gave out a loud roar. Toruk Makto! good to see you!

There were a lot more to see in this parade. I didnt include the escorts, the bands and the beautiful majorettes! well, i wanted to concentrate on the floats first, the little that i can really post. I'll post some of the highlights from the parade. Next time!

Next:
Panagbenga 2011 Part 3: Sights and Highlights of the Parade