Twenty-four small and big floats beautifully adorned with various types of colorful flowers and ornamental plants will be the center of attraction in the keenly-awaited grand Panagbenga Festival parade here on Sunday, Feb. 26.

It can be recalled that in 2019 – the last time the dazzling festival was seen before it was shelved for two consecutive years due to pandemic – both the small and big flower floats in the parade drew a big crowd.

During the 2019 edition two giant television stations, ABS-CBN and GMA 7, sent their noted entertainment personalities for their own floats that were included in the then grand parade.

Back then, spectators were already packing the sidelines along the Session and Harrison Roads as early as 5 O’clock in the morning.

The same scenario is likely this year, more so since art and flower lovers, as well as local and foreign tourists are excited to see another exciting edition of the annual festival.

The flower parade led by the city government and Department of Tourism officials will start at 8 O’clock in the morning. The parade will be graced by non-competing participants, including Baguio Country Club that has two floats, and SM City Baguio.

The ‘Jeepito,’ the smallest jeep in the world and NSKK floral cart will join as special participants.

The competing entries in the small float category are Converge, The Fraternal Order of the Eagle, EEVOR Skin Depot, Mang Inasal, Solid North, Palawan Express, Province of Benguet, Unilever Philippines, and Zaparita’s garden.

For the big float category, the competitors are Avilon Zoo, Camp John Hay Leisure, Coca-Cola Philippines, Ikea Philippines, IPI, Jollibee Foods Corporation, SITEL Philippines, and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

In 2019, the last celebration of the Panagbenga Festival, the M.Lhuillier Financial Services, Inc. won as grand champion in the big float with a prize of P500,000, with SITEL Philippines copping second (P300,000) and Generika Drug third (P200,000).

In the small float category, Taloy Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative clinched the first place and the P200,000 cash prize, with Igorot Treasure taking second place (P150,000) and Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival in Pradera Verde settling for third (P100,000).

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by COMANDA RIZALDY C.

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