Date: February
Venue: Baguio, the Philippines

The Panagbenga Festival is a month-long event that is held annually in February in Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines. It showcases many floral floats and native dances.

Panagbenga means “a season of blooming.” The festival, known as the Baguio Flower Festival, is set to pay homage to the beautiful flowers the city is famous for and as a celebration of Baguio’s re-establishment after the earthquake in 1990.

Spectators enjoy a multiple floral and float parades over two days while the Baguio Flower Festival Association (BFFA) will host a street dancing parade and band exhibition. The festival also features a search for the Mr. and Ms. Baguio Flower Festival, trade fair, bazaar, FM Panagbenga Pop Fiesta, Skateboard competition and Dolls of Japan exhibit were added to the BFFA calendar.

History
The festival was first organized in 1995 by John Hay Poro Point Development Corporation (JPDC). Its plan was to present the idea to the different sectors of the community: government, education, business, media and civic organizations. This was not only to solicit their support, but also to gather their suggestions and ideas.

The festival reflects the history, traditions and values of Baguio and the Cordilleras. The first event was held in October 1995. Its official logo was chosen from entries to the Annual Camp John Hay Art Contest in which contestants came from elementary, high school and college students in Baguio. The festival hymn was composed by Professor Macario Fronda of Saint Louis University.

Besides economic boosts from tourism, the festival helps the younger generation of indigenous people to rediscover their culture’s old traditions.

Getting There
The City of Baguio is a highly urbanized city in northern Luzon in the Philippines. It is accessible by air and land transportation. Presently, Asian Spirit offers flights from Manila to Baguio (Loakan Airport) on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, a 50-minute flight. Flights to Baguio are scheduled only in the morning, as visibility approaches zero in afternoons when fog starts to form. By land, you go for a six-hour ride on a 250-kilometer route from Manila.

More information about Panagbenga festival can also be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panagbenga_Festival or http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_festivals
/panagbenga_festival.html