Two Flower Fests in Baguio Gear for Showdown

What is supposed to be a traditional celebration has become an occasion for political turfing. For the first time since it started in 1995, residents and visitors in Baguio City will witness two flower festivals due to failure of warring organizers to unite.

BY ACE ALEGRE
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat

BAGUIO CITY―For the first time since it started in 1995, residents and visitors here (246 kms. from Manila) will be witness to two flower festivals due to failure of warring organizers to unite.

Leaders and supporters of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI) announced last January 27 that they are holding their own version of the “Panagbenga” (blooming of plants and flowers).

Even as most of their revelries will be at the private Camp John Hay, their float parade and street dancing will be at Session Road on Feb. 25 and 26, respectively.

The other group, Baguio Panagbenga Flower Festival Association (BPFFA) led by Catholic Bishop Carlito Cenzon and businesswoman Nelia Cid, practically appropriated all public places for its use upon the directive of Baguio City Mayor Braulio Yaranon.

However, lawyer Damaso Bangaoet who is credited for the Panagbenga festival which started in 1995, said, “The two Panagbengas are complimentary and is an opportunity rather than a problem.”

Bangaoet said that he sees the beauty of two festivals because people joining the revelries from February until March will have more to expect. He added that if there would be any competition, it would be a friendly one.  According to him, the situation that seemed hopeless to unite the two groups with only a few days left “brings out our ability to organize things better.”

He said that BFFFI made it a point that their schedules will not conflict with that of the BPFFA-led activities, citing that the BFFFI street dancing parade is on the afternoon of Feb. 26 while the BPFFA’s is on the morning of Feb. 25. 

Bangaoet promised to join the opening ceremonies of the BPFFA-led rites on January 30 at the Rose Garden here. He said that BFFFI will open its own celebrations at SM-Baguio on Feb. 1.

More to see

This time, BFFFI organizers said that they have convinced Camp John Hay again to participate after it shunned the limelight three years ago when it turned over the festival to the city.  “New features, additions and activities await the revelers at Camp John Hay,” said Bangaoet.

He claimed that they have also enjoined SM-Baguio to come out with its own participation in the Panagbenga to add more zest to the overall celebrations.

The Baguio-Benguet Flower Growers Association was saddened by the failure of the BFFFI and BPFFA to unite. According to one of the members, the association’s president is joining the BPFFA while more than 20 of them want to join the BFFFI-organized activities.  

Bangaoet said a telecommunications company and other firms are supporting them and these are also supporting the BPFFA-led rites. He added that two big brass bands from outside the Cordillera region and bands from Cavite and other provinces are joining the street dancing and float parades. Officials from Camarines Sur, Malolos, Bulacan and nearby towns in Region I and II are also expected to come. 

­Saint Louis University, University of Baguio and University of the Cordilleras here said that they would not join in any of the two rites due to the failure of the two groups to unite, Bangaoet said.

Baguio Rep. Mauricio Domogan, a leading official in the BFFFI, claimed the participation of Manny Pacquiao who is expected to join the parade. A garden at the planned Panagbenga Park at Loakan Road will be named after Pacquiao and his family.

Yaranon also claimed that the BPFFA has invited Pacquiao to grace any of its activities. BPFFA-led activities will open its rites on Jan. 30. World-class wushu athletes from the Cordillera who won during the recent Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will attend. Bulatlat

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