'Panagbenga Festival' (English: Flower Festival) is a month-long annual flower festival occurring in Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines.[1] The term is of Malayo-Polynesian origin, meaning "season of blooming".[1] The festival, held during the month of February, was created as a tribute to the city's flowers and as a way to rise up from the devastation of the 1990 Luzon earthquake.[2] The festival includes floats that are decorated with flowers unlike those used in Pasadena's Rose Parade. The festival also includes street dancing, presented by dancers clad in flower-inspired costumes, that is inspired by the Bendian, an Ibaloi dance of celebration that came from the Cordillera region.[3] (Wikipedia)
###
Although we went home late (past our curfew! ;D) the night before the festival and became pretend-groupies (lol) of Sponge Cola in their Baguio gig... We set our alarms super early so we can all prepare for the highlight of this trip: The Panagbenga Parade!
Nakakatawa, the night before, nag uunahan pa kami na "Ako una maliligo a!" "Next ako!" But when our alarm went off ng 4:30am (Ava's phone)...walang gustong bumangon! Napilitan nalang ako since gising nadin, and nilamig lang naman ng bongga while trying to figure out the weird heater system of Villa Edita! ;P Tinakot ko pa sarili ko, ang dilim and lamig pa kasi!
Ready for the Flower Festival!
Red Bowler Hat - Bugis, Singapore
Blue Floral Shirt - Department Store
Gold Necklace - Robinsons Department Store
Patrol Shorts - Herbench
Purple Flats - Landmark
Brown Sling Bag - Vintage
We found ourselves sa dead-end when we reached the kanto of Session Road, bawal na ang vehicles so we decided to walk!
Pax's relative in Baguio texted her na they already set up their latags as early as 5am! Para maganda ang view during the parade!
Nung malapit na kami sa PLDT office (we will watch the parade from their roof deck), streets slowly filled up. And I noticed that throughout the festivities, kahit madaming tao, they never removed their jackets dahil malamig! :)
...WOW! Full house nadin pala sa other side!!!!
Braved the crowd ng inaantok pa! Someone even spilled Coke sa shoes ko! :P Good thing we will watch sa roof deck, kundi chaos! Thank you PLDT!
Finally reached PLDT building, and had breakfast first!
At around 8am, we went up the roof deck and picked our spots!
Then the band started marching! Bentang benta ang Moves Like Jagger this year, mga 10x pinatugtog! Hehe!
Korean invasion!
One of my favorites: Star Wars float!
Woot! Darth Vader in da house! :D
Can you spot Queen Amidala and an Ewok? :D
Super detailed floats like SM's dragon mesmerized the festival-goers!
Check out the details!!!! PANALO!
Media invasion! Top networks in our country had their own floats during the parade!
TV5's float:
GMA 7's My Beloved float, featuring celebrity couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera:
THERE goes a little wave!
I love IT'S SHOWTIME float! The crowd went wild!
They were playing the Showtime theme song, while the artistas in the float were wildly waving and singing...along with the huge Baguio crowd! :D Yan ang festive float!
Spotted Ryan Bang, Kuya Kim, Jong Hilario, Kit Kat, and even Jugs and Teddy!
I love his energy! Vice Ganda waved here and there, smiling to the crowd while singing along their show's theme!
Aegis float:
The final float with a moon and sun from DOT!
Pax and Ava! They got the best view, perhaps? :)
WiFi Zone is the premium WiFi service powered by PLDT that lets you enjoy the strongest connections even outside your home. Now in over 3, 500 areas, there's no need to ask for pins every time, so that's minus the hassle. All you need is one WiFi ID (username and password). I think it's also an affordable offer, just add P150 for unlimited WiFi for myDSL subscribers, or P300 for landline subscribers on top of your monthly service fee. Eto nga ata yung pinipilit sa akin ng dad ko na kunin na service, haha!
Bloggers Pax, Tracy, and Calvin taking pictures of the parade:
PLDT WiFi Zone covered the whole Session Road, Burnham Park, and Mines View Park during the whole Panagbenga Festival! They also did this during the Sinulog in Cebu, which I find really cool. Conquering the different festivals all-over the country, I feel that PLDT WiFi in a way helps support our tourism since more people can update their families and friends all over the world with the lovely pictures and happenings in our country.
I wonder where they will be heading to next?
BEFORE
AFTER
My very first Panagbenga Festival experience wouldn't be this FUN without this great company! :)
I wonder what festival I'll be experiencing next!
Where will you be heading to this summer, and would want PLDT to set-up their WiFi zone din? :)
Benta siguro kung whole stretch of Boracay, from Station 1 to 3, naka PLDT WiFi! :D