Panagbenga 2012: Schedules & Tips for a Hit and No Miss Flower Festival

Ahh! Bagiuo....its been a while.

Bagiuo has always been my refuge. An easy sanctuary from both the hustle and bustle of a hippie life and the scorching heat of cement, steel and sun. Though my genes contain 'city' in their transcript, i always miss the cool breezes of Bagiuo. Just a bus away, thanks to the hourly Victory Liner for the most part...and you're there.

So much for the musings. Now I believe everyone in the country, especially our visitors and people in the Metro should experience the Panagbenga at least twice in their lives.  Its Bagiuo at its best. 

Though the Panagbenga is formally launched around November of each year, the culmination held every last weekend of February is always a sight to see and an experience to remember. Now, if you are itching to get your feet up in Bagiuo for a flowery treat, then take note of the Schedule:

 

Panagbenga 2012 Launch and Concert: November 14, 2011

Panagbenga Opening Parade: February 1, 2012

Market Encounter: February 1 to March 4, 2012

Let a Thousand Flower Bloom: February 11, 2012

Handog ng Panagbenga sa Bagiuo: February 12, 2012

Fluvial Float Parade: February 12, 2012

Ipitik Festival: February 17-20, 2012

Chinese Spring Festival: February 21, 2012

Grand Street Dancing Parade: February 25, 2012

Grand Float Parade: February 26, 2012

Session Road in Bloom: February 27 to March 4, 2012

Pony Boy's Day: March 2, 2012

Panagbenga Closing Ceremonies and Grand Fireworks Display: March 4, 2012

In planning for Panagbenga, the best thing is always planning ahead...way, way ahead. I mean, by December you should already be booking a hotel, your bus ticket going to Bagiuo AND your trip home. Its a must, 'coz when you're there, it seems like the whole country is gathered there for a feast.  In looking for a hotel, book the ones near session road. It's where all the action will be. I'm so sorry I don't have a list and the numbers, but next time i will. But the net has everything, try searching for Bagiuo hotels, all of them sure are advertising early.

Although it would be grand to see the celebration through and through, us busybodies just have to work. But if you need to choose the days, then choose well. I'd recommend concentrating on the Grand Streetdance to the Grand Float Parades. Those two made Panagbenga famous. If it would not hurt to use a couple more sick leaves, then extending your stay up to the Closing and Fireworks would be much more satisfying.  BUT, dont miss the market encounter! there you can find Bagiuo's best products for the taking!

But the Market Encounter is not located at the Central Market. Its around Burnham Park, behind it, well...at least last year Its not free too. There will be an entrance fee .... uhm, i forgot now how much it was, but its rather cheap like a 10 or 20.  But the things you will find there are endless. Just make sure you can carry'em all back. The things i can't live without while there?  strawberries and Sagada oranges!

Vegetables too are a hit. They're all fresh as can be. From the green leafy ones to the root crops of all sizes and colors. From the ones you are most familiar, to those you'll swear you see for the first time (true in my case!).  If only I have a trailer, and a walk-in fridge, then i'll buy a ton.

OH! before I dwell in my reveries of food and shopping, I need to tell you about the Parade.  Well, the common tale you'll hear from one who've been to Panagbenga and back is the waiting-since-dawn routine. Well, it's true. Some even sleep in tents just to secure a place somewhere in the pavement stretch of Session Road where the parade will pass. The parade will start around 8 am, but you will still manage to squeeze through people if you'll be there at 6 am. Yup, the earlier the better. So remember:

1. Be early, earlier than 6 am is good

2. Scout the day before along session road for a good vantage point, both to see above the heads and to take pictures.  The session road is long, if you can manage to secure a sweet spot in front of the PLDT, then that's the best place. Otherwise, get on the footbridge or travel upstream (past SM City going to Victory Liner Station) where the assembly starts.

3. Bring newspapers or something you can sit on. the parade will last for at least 3-4 hours so your knees will need some break

4. Bring snacks, even if you plan to take a very heavy breakfast. You don't want to be fainting while the parade is still on, your friends will hate you.

5. Protection from cold is standard enough. BUT bring sunscreen. Yup, sunscreen. I really got pink cheeks and they're not from the 2 kilos of strawberries I ate.

6. Water. With too many people, and the parade being magical, there isn't just time to get out of line to buy water. Although you can risk your health and buy the ones sold in the streets. 

Now there! that just about sums up what I know will make your flower festival festive.  If you are a photographer, its always best to get an accreditation from the organizer so you can roam around like Gods! ha! but decent pictures can still be taken if you are early enough to get at least a front seat...I mean, pavement.  Also, the grounds where the competition will be held offers a lot of photo opportunities since the streetdancers shall all be lined up there waiting for their turn to compete. Just don't forget to ask very nicely if you want them to pose. They are also tired you know, especially the kids.  

If you want to watch the competition, the grandstand is a lot of space. But the really good spots are reserved for the VIPs, as always.  That's where photographers reign supreme. But you can always squeeze in to get a good look. Another mental note: bring your telephoto lens! chances are, you'll need them badly.  Have a fast lunch, then scurry down to the Quirino (?) Area for a nice front seat. I still dont know what that area is called. I'll ask a friend.

It's always fulfilling to experience Panagbenga. Now, are you all locked and loaded ready for a swing? But remember, after enjoying the full colors of the flowers in bloom, ogling innocently at the graceful dancers of the parade, please dont forget to pick up your trash. Even if Baguio City is also known for its sturdy 'walis tambo', leaving no trash behind completes one happy journey. Always does.

So c'mon, pack your gears and let's go up north this coming February.

For a good look of what happened last year at Panagbenga 2011, look here:

Panagbenga 2011 Part 1: The 16th Bagiuo Flower Festival Grand Parade and Streetdance Competition

Panagbenga 2011 Part 3: Sights and Highlights of the Parade

The Panagbenga Grand Parade, both the Streetdance Parade and the Float Parade were truly wonderful sights to see. I commend the organizers of the Festival to have convened a large group of talented young people to showcase their talent to the throngs of spectators during the two day parade. The news had it that these were the highest recorded visitors Baguio City ever had, especially during the second day. My camera was really very busy clicking away at all the interesting details and performances. But alas! it was really impossible to contain all that i have winessed in Panagbenga. I hope next year would be grander and equally exhilirating! Here are some of my favorite attractions which i didnt cover from my past two posts.

One of the much awaited parade attractions are the bugle and drum bands. I was surprised to see this young boy in the band. Does he really play the bugle?

All the bands that accompanied the floats were all dressed up for the occassion, were all attractions in their own right, and all had beautiful ladies to lead them! pretty pretty majorettes!

Pretty girl who played the flute and wore flower headresses.

Aside from the young showbiz attractions perched on the floats, they also house (?) young pretty lasses, truly Bagiuo's best. 

One of the most captivating performances in the Float Parade were those rendered by this group of beautiful ladies dressed like princesses...or are they butterflies? The group was sponsored by Bagiuo Metamorphosis.

They executed a dance which enthralled the crowd. It looked like a courtyard dance to me. But maybe it depicted butterflies in flight, playing among the flowers.

And what was more wonderful about this group, were not their Disney-like costumes, but the ladies themselves. They really looked like royalty, their pretty faces captivated the crowd....yup including me.

This blue fairy is my favorite. Such a pretty pretty face! I think i have 20 frames of her in my cam.

Different groups participated in this parade, as far as Cavite. They lightened up the crowd with their special dance numbers in between parade walks.

And they vary in ages too. Young girls in the band are truly remarkable.

This must be the youngest group in the parade.

The bands also varied in theme: ifugao, flower fairies, butterflies...this band looked like the character from The Nutcracker...many of them.

Hmmm.....i think this belonged to the float which featured the different cultures in the country, malay, muslim and ifugao. I think it was M. Lhuillier's float. Have i included the float in my previous post...oh! guess i didnt have a good shot. I think i focused on these pretty ladies.

Outstandingly elaborate! Ha! im running out of words to describe them.

These little girls were cute with their flowery umbrellas. And they were so small! still wondering if they have endured the whole parade walk...

Mascots and Puppets were also paraded together with the bands.  I remember there was also a rabbit walking...

This young girl was also my favorite. She danced like crazy! and alluring! she has beautiful eyes and a face like Alessandra da Rossi. Pretty!

This fairy rode with the big pink bunny. There were more of them perched on different parts of the float, almost inconspicuously.

This pretty ifugao girl rode in M. Lhuillier's float, together with the muslim girl up ahead.

Hmmm.....toy soldier? oh! but what a pretty one.

I think their ifugao attire did not really match their majorette boots. but what the heck, they're still pretty awesome.

Well, that was the end of my journey in Bagiuo City to witness the much-awaited Panagbenga. I hope next year i can still go up there and be part of the festival. I hope next year i can witness the Pony boys, the market encounter and other attractions.  Better plan ahead to be right on the spot. See you next journey!

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