BAGUIO CITY – More streetdancing participants are expected in this year’s Panagbenga, with an open category featuring mixed groupings, it was known in the press conference with fest’s executives last week.
The opening parade on Feb. 1 will have dancers from the Baguio Central School, Dona Aurora, Quezon, Don Mariano Marcos, Pinget, Camp 6, Mabini, Dominican-Mirador, Laurel, Lucban, Aguinaldo and Josefa Carino elementary schools at the Athletic Bowl, Burnham park, sashaying to Original Pilipino Music (OPM) with the late Dean Macario Fronda’s Panagbenga hymn as entrance music.
College category contestants have yet to confirm their participation to the 22nd Baguio Flower Festival as invitations were sent to performers in the Cordillera region, La Union, Pangasinan and other provinces in region 1. Performers from Bulacan have signified their intentions of joining the festival, Chief of Staff of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI), Evangeline Payno said.
An open category is also being mulled, with multi representatives-participants to form dance groups; from the academe, barangays, socio-civic organizations, even non-Government Organizations with 50 to 120 participants.
Streetdance choreography, execution, instrumentation, creativity, costume and recycled props, and audience impact are included in the judging.
The Liga ng mga Barangay may also join the dance parade on Feb. 1 which moves from the Panagbenga Park to upper and lower Session Road, Magsaysay Avenue, and Athletic Bowl, Burnham Park.
According to Mayor Mauricio Domogan, the showdown on Feb. 25 will be at the Athletic Bowl, while the floats will be displayed along Melvin Jones park after the parade Feb. 26.
The community-led events final calendar goes out just before the Feb. 1 opening, Payno also announced. Included in the calendar are the school-based events, urban garden contest, and the Session Road façade events.
All activities are anchored on the theme “Inspired by Beauty, Nurtured by Nature.”
Baguio City Police Office Director Ramil Saculles said deployment for traffic, security and critical areas have already been planned, including canine and regional police assignments.
Assessment meetings have also been conducted for emergency teams, communication groups and volunteers, Saculles added.
Meanwhile, early invitations for the Feb. 12 Handog ng Panagbenga para sa Pamilya Baguio are being extended by the Baguio Flower Festival executives. Family-oriented activities such as medical- dental missions, fun booths, food, entertainment and games await each participant, it was known. **juliegfianza
