Panagbenga Festival of Baguio kicks off today, February 1. This year is the 15th Panagbenga, the famous Baguio flower festival which fires off on Monday with the elimination round of the street dancing competition. Local and foreign tourists will start flocking to this mountain resort city to witness the colorful activities.

Panagbenga is a Kankanaey term for the blossoming of flowers. It was adapted by Rep. Mauricio G. Domogan when he was still the city’s local chief executive to name the festival since the months of February and March are the times of year when flowers in Baguio and Benguet are in full bloom.

Other highlights of the annual Panagbenga include the fluvial parade at the Burnham Park lake on February 14, Valentines Day; the street dancing parade on February 27; the float and marching bands competition on February 28; and the Session Road in Bloom.

Participants to the float parade need to spend at least P400,000 each in order to come out with a competitive float which is expected to contribute to the uplift of the local flower industry that was heavily devastated by the onslaught of Typhoon Pepeng late last year.

Local hotel owners in Baguio and Benguet said their establishments are close to being fully booked towards the middle of the month due to the increasing reservations from tourists who want to witness the city’s premier crowd drawing event.

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