Welcome to the Panagbenga -- A Special Section!
The Baguio Flower Festival has had a short but very colorful history. Learn how it all started from a small idea that took root and bloomed into a rich display of the city's community spirit.
History of the Panagbenga
The Panagbenga started with just an idea that Baguio City should, like other towns and cities in the Philippines, have it's own "fiesta" or festival celebration.
Having been created a city by the Americans during their occupation of the Philippines, Baguio did not start as a town during the Spanish colonial period that had a patron saint with a feast day.
Its charter day anniversary is on September 1, which falls right in the middle of the country's rainy season, which does not allow for parades and other outdoor activities that usually are the highlight of such celebrations.
In 1995 when Atty. Damaso E. Bangaoet, Jr., proposed the idea of organizing a flower festival to be held in February to the directors of the John Hay Poro Point Development Corporation, his suggestion received their immediate approval.
I asked Atty. Bangaoet years ago, "Why
February?" He responded, "Because the
weather in February is perfect, plus it
gives folks a reason to visit us between
Christmas and Holy Week."
Thereafter the idea was presented to the different sectors of Baguio society and their response, also warm and immediate, eventually grew as a wellspring of community support.
An identity was created that was to reflect the rich cultural heritage tof Baguio City and the Cordillera region. The official logo was selected from among those submitted by the students of all levels at the Camp John Hay Art Contest. Trisha Tabangin's winning entry of a spray of wild sunflowers was selected.
The festival hymn was composed by Saint Louis University (SLU) Professor Macario Fronda, which was learned by all the school children. It is still that music that wafts in the air all thoughout the festival more than a decade later, especially during the parades.
The core events remain the same: The Parade of Floats, Steet Dancing & Band Competitions, Session Road in Bloom, Market Encounter, Pony Boys Day, etc.
The original Barangay Community Garden competition participated in by the different local government units, which was one of Atty Bangaoet's most brilliant ideas that was designed for the city to have as many pocket gardens and mini parks as there were barangays, sadly no longer figures in the Panagbenga.
Many other events have been added with civic organizations holding privately run and funded activities, too..
In the beginning, the Panagbenga was a series of celebrations that were held over a period of 10 days encompassing two weekends: the first being the launching ceremonies, the weekdays being Session Road in Bloom and the last weekend was when the Grand Parades were held.
Due it its popularity, the period was extended to two weeks, then three, then held for the whole month of February, always taking full advantage of the presence of the alumni of the Philippine Military Academy during PMA Week which is timed for Valentine's Day. Now the festival stretches to five weeks!
A few years later the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation (BFF) was organized to manage the festival, which has had its share of "growing pains," too"
A Little More
About the Founder
Damy Bangaoet, as he is more familiarly known in the City of Pines, has always been a top-notch marketer, having been one of the pioneer graduates of the "new" course called Marketing in UP Diliman College of Business Administration when it was first offered, and a founding officer of the Junior Marketing Association (UP JMA) created shortly thereafter.
A member of the prestigious Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity of the University of the Philippines, he counts among his achievements a successful stint at Mercury Drug during his young career as a marketing professional, and later holding the position of JPDC Managing Director for Camp John Hay. He currently serves as John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) Vice President.
For example, at one time there were two sets of competitions held by held by different organizers; internal squabbles among residents put in charge of certain events; another instance when the Mayor and Congressman declared, "The show must go on!" and the school children were made to perform under the pouring rain.
In the subsequent elections, some local officials lost their seats as a result of their insensitivity to the community that makes the festival successful.
The Panagbenga has always received huge media coverage because of the instaneous popularity it has enjoyed from the very beginning.
Every year, visitors are treated to a display of the strength of the local community sprit as the residents stage the hottest show in the coolest city in the Philippines.
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