BAGUIO CITY – The Grand Opening Parade went without a hitch Friday to kick-off the more than month-long celebration of the 24th Edition of the Baguio Flower Festival or Panagbenga with the theme, “Blooming Forward”.
The day started with a traditional Cordilleran blessing ritual at Panagbenga Park, Upper Session Road extension, at 7 am with the City hall cultural dance group garbed in attire representing the various tribes in the city and region. The University of the Cordilleras dance group also gave a performance during the activity.
The cultural dancers were joined by several members of the religious sector, Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) trustees and local officials led by Congressman Mark Go and Mayor Mauricio Domogan who delivered an “uggayam” or a prayer done in a native chanting manner to cap the blessing ritual.
At approximately 8 am the parade commenced from the area, thru the city’s main thoroughfares and ended at the Baguio Athletic Bowl where the seven official participating entries to the elementary division drum and lyre street dance competition did their full presentations before judges and the audience.
The competing entries include Lucban Elementary School, Tuba Central School, Apolinario Mabini Elementary School, Jose P. Laurel Elementary School, Baguio Central School, Dontogan Elementary School and Manuel L Quezon Elementary School.
Also joining the parade were the PMA color guard and marching band, city government officials and representative from other government agencies, BFFFI trustees, police officials, Panagbenga landscapers association, SLU high school and college marching band, Baguio pet lovers community, pony boys association, fire department, Girl and Boy scouts, league of barangays and others.
Panagbenga’s opening salvo also had the ribbon-cutting and launching of the Baguio Blooms Exposition and Exhibition at the Burnham Park Skating Rink led by city officials and BFFFI trustees. The exhibition will end on March 10.**gaby keith
