Review,Enrichment pg.48, April 17, 2018
Most notably known as the Philippines flower festival, Panagbenga held annually in Baguio city. Known as the summer capital of Philippines, the Baguio city considered as one of the most popular tourist attraction. If there’s one festival that catch our attention more than others through the years, it’s the Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City. During the event, locals come out of their respective home to participate to the blooming of the new season’s flowers all around the town. The festival also implying the local’s rising from the earthquakes that devastated the Philippines biggest island in 1990.
Festivals are not original to the Filipino’s taste. In every province, there’s always a celebration, lively music, plentiful dishes, very much alive clothes, and right in the middle of it all is us, he Filipinos being our liveliest celebration loving selves.
In this parades, you will see in the exhibit is the vibrant costumes, mainly inspired by flowers themselves. In other words, you will see flowers walking on the road. There are two major parades event on the streets of Baguio. First is the Opening parade, is held on the 1st of February and is taken as a signal of the start of Panagbenga festival. Floats of volunteers participated in the opening parade to witness the start of Panagbenga festival. Secondly, the Grand Float Parade organize at Session Rd. to the Melvin Jones Grounds, this parade is held on the fourth Sunday of February. The parade begins with a spectacular view of petals showering along the side of the session road with the marching bands following.
The most eminent feature of this festival, the costumes. Although the flowers are the highly dominant element of the festivity, some people still choose a costume that featured the most popular products of the city including strawberries, woven baskets and a broom known as “Walis Tambo” made of local plant material. People truly follow this theme during all the seven days of the festival. They put all the spring colors in dressing, in face painting, and decorations. Theme shows that harmony and enthusiasm of a festival. To capture the fun of festival, everyone strictly follows the theme and colors of the festival.
No festival can ever be completed without the addition of food served, and same is true for Panagbenga festival. Strawberry Taho, a specialty of the Panagbenga festival this dessert not only portrays the regional dimension of the Baguio city but also with its bright colors showcase the Panagbenga festival.
Panagbenga is also famous for its souvenirs and so does the people of Philippines for their creativity. However, the Panagbenga festival is the ultimate display of the creativity, culture, and rituals of the Filipinos. The dresses wore by the people during the festival, the decorations all portray the cultural heritage of the people of Philippines. Furthermore, this creativity is most notably seen in the souvenirs on display in trade fair and bazaar. Various souvenirs display at Panagbenga festival for selling purpose includes t-shirts, necklaces, scarves and much more.
As the festival starts with the opening ceremonies, it shall end in a similar manner. For that purpose, the closing ceremony is arranged every year at the athletic bowl field during the first Sunday of the march. One of the most exciting features of the closing ceremony is a display of fireworks in the evening.











