BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — This summer capital is set to blossom anew with the 30th staging of Baguio Flower Festival, popularly known as Panagbenga.
The city Government, in partnership with the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI), officially launched Panagbenga 2026 Festival with the theme, “Blooming Without End” during the flag-raising ceremony at the city hall grounds on Monday, January 12.
Panagbenga 2026 is a five-week series of festivities from Feb. 1 to March 8 that will feature various events reflecting the culture and values of the city and the Cordillera.
The Grand Opening Parade is set on Feb. 1 and will be highlighted by the preliminaries of the Street Dance and Drum and Lyre competition by elementary school contingents.
From Feb. 1 to March 8, city folks and tourists can visit the Panagbenga Market Encounter along Burnham Park to enjoy shopping and satisfy food cravings, as well as the PanagbengaScapes Landscape Exhibition and Design Challenge at Melvin Jones Football Ground.
Other traditional Panagbenga events are the Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio on Feb. 14 which offers open painting competition and exhibition and the annual kite flying challenge.
Cultural performers from various parts of Cordillera will gather in the Rhythm of the Highlands at the Melvin Jones ground on Feb. 15 to showcase culture and dance.
The much-anticipated Panagbenga highlights—the Grand Street Dance Parade and the Grand Floral Float Parade—will be held on Feb. 28 and March 1, respectively.
To cap the Panagbenga festivities is the popular Session Road in Bloom from March 2 to 8, which will also feature various products and gastronomic treats.
There are also institution- and community-led activities within the Flower Festival such as the school-based floral bouquet and dish garden Competitions (Feb. 7), the Baguio Spring Festival Parade (Feb. 16), and the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Homecoming Weekend (from Feb. 19 to 22).
Baguio Congressman Mauricio Domogan, BFFFI Chairman for Life, shared that Panagbenga was conceptualized to lift the spirit of Baguio City from the ruins and sorrow brought by the 1990 earthquake.
“Panagbenga was conceptualized 30 years ago, at a moment when Baguio City yearned for renewal, not only of its physical structure, but of the spirit of its people, and of their faith in brighter days ahead”;
“From the devastation of the 1990 earthquake, when buildings crumbled, and lives were shaken, the people of Baguio chose not to despair, but hope. From broken ground, emerged a vision—that even after the darkest hours, life could bloom again,” Domogan stressed.
Domogan is inviting city folks and stakeholders, Cordillerans, and tourists to join and support the Panagbenga in its 30th staging as the organizers hope to bring a historic and memorable festival for everyone.
“Under the theme ‘Blooming Without End,’ we declare that Panagbenga does not fade with the season. It blooms in our memories, in our unity, and in our unwavering resolve to rise and march together—again and again,” Domogan added. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR
