Panagbenga Festival

This was my first time to attend the "season of blooming" also famously known as Panagbenga Festival. The event was created in tribute of the devastation of the earthquake last 1990 as their way of expressing that North Luzon will rise again. For many years, it is visited by many people to witness the brightest and colorful flowers decorated on floats and houses and dressed as costumes.

We stayed for four days and the first two days were all about revisiting the tourist spots of Baguio. The remaining days were allotted for the town's activities such as street dancing and float parade.

Most of the participants are young and they came from different schools of Luzon and Baguio. It's nice to see them perform with their colorful costumes and props with their graceful dancings. The spectators also had the chance to see Filipino TV stars on their corresponding floats.

Photos I took during the street dancing (February 25, 2012):









A float parade was held the next day, February 26, 2012.











Just like any other festivals, it was attended by many tourists reportedly around 1.3M. The first two weekdays was a bit easy on getting taxis and making your way to tourist spots and malls. But during the weekends and festival proper, Baguio mall started to feel like palengke and it was difficult to hail any other modes of transportation going back to your place.

So here is the list of things I have learned during the festival.

1. Make your stay count. If you know the location will be attended by many tourists, book ahead of time and make your stay long. Baguio has a lot to offer for the tourists to see. Allot days to see, eat, and feel the place. Talk to locals if there are still places you haven't visited yet. You will not enjoy if you are hurrying up all the time.

2. Book ahead of time. Book one month or two months before to any festival. Even the buses get jampacked too. So, book ahead of time to avoid disappointments.

3. Bring essentials and be patient. Pampaypays, water, food, these festivals require a lot of patience and acrobatic moves to squeeze in to a crowded areas.

4. Research or ask. Announcements regarding the festival are posted in the internet or announced in the tv / radio. These are important because of the schedule and location. So you wouldn't miss any of the program.

5. ENJOY the activities. It's the most colorful and sacred festival you'll ever encounter. It only happens every year, so enjoy! :D