Issues are actually getting again to regular. After two tough years of isolation, restrictions, and social distancing because of the international pandemic, it looks as if issues are going again the way in which they had been. Particularly in tourism, it’s lastly going again into form. After the 2 yr hiatus, the Panagbenga Competition in Baguio is again! It has been six years for the reason that final time I went to Baguio to witness this much-awaited pageant.
The time period Panagbenga is principally a Kankanaey time period ( a South-Central Cordilleran language) which suggests “a season of blossoming, a time for flowering” as it’s celebrated on the month of February when flowers are beginning to bloom. This pageant displays the historical past, traditions and values of Baguio and the Cordilleras. Panagbenga is a month-long celebration with the final Saturday and Sunday of February being the grandest of all of them.
The Grand Avenue Dance Parade is often accomplished on the final Saturday whereas the well-known Grand Float Parade is commonly accomplished on the final Sunday. I used to be fortunate sufficient to be a part of a tour a couple of weeks in the past that gave me an opportunity to revisit among the wonderful locations in Baguio, in addition to to witness the colourful Grand Float Parade. We departed from Cavite on Friday evening and arrived in Baguio on Saturday morning. We had our first cease over within the well-known Lion’s Head earlier than heading to our transient home simply to unload our baggage.
Though, we determined to skip the Grand road dance parade, we’ve spent our Saturday visiting a few of Benguet’s well-known locations. These embody the colourful homes of Stobosa, the Strawberry farm of La Trinidad, the Bell Church Temple, the Lourdes Grotto in Baguio, the Mansion and the Mines View Park, and the Diplomat Resort. We additionally concluded our day by visiting the Night time market earlier than heading again to our transient home.
Sadly, we arrived fairly late for the Float Parade. It was already beginning and we had been dropped off at Baguio Cathedral when the parade was about to finish. I made a decision to ran to the following road and was lucky sufficient to seize a few of it. In response to stories, there have been an estimated 50 thousand individuals who visited Baguio to witness the colourful and festive float parade. The Float parade is the principle spotlight of the pageant which options large floats which are coated in large number of flowers.
These colourful floats typically conveyed a message of pleasure, concord and unity. These are fastidiously and elegantly created by native craftsmen and artisans who used largely contemporary and actual potted crops by farmers from Benguet and Baguio. The theme of this yr’s Panagbenga Competition, “A Renaissance of Marvel and Magnificence”, highlights the town’s journey towards tourism revival, sustainable and accountable tourism improvement, and entry into the brand new regular after the pandemic.
It also needs to be famous that this parade can also be a contest divided into Huge Float and Small float class. Each Avenue dance and Float Parade took the same old route starting on the Higher Session Street close to the Panagbenga Park, down Session Street to Harrison Street ending on the Melvin Jones grandstand the place they are going to be exhibited.
A number of the pageant and cultural dancers additionally carried out through the float parade.
Every float within the parade is represented by a product, a model, or an organization. I’m not certain if that is some kind of promotion, sponsorships, or each, however they had been all a part of the competitors.
This large float with head-turning picture of a girl is from Sitel group. It later gained the Third Place in Huge Float Class.
Simply have a look at all the small print.
Jollibee can also be a part of the parade
Avenue dance showcasing Baguio’s wealthy tradition
Coca-Cola themed float
One other colourful float representing an Ethyl alcohol model.
Driving the float is the favored content material creator Albert Nicolas also called the Asian Cutie
Cultural dancers not simply showcasing their native costume but additionally their ethnic devices and music
Really, a exceptional efficiency
A colourful and festive method of showcasing nation’s tradition and custom.
Jeepito is a custom-made miniature jeepney is a staple of the Float parade since 2015.
The parade concludes with Baguio Horse Membership sporting some iconic Disney character costumes.
There have been additionally some Avenue Dance performances from the yesterday’s competitors carried out in Melvin’s Grandstand.
Dancers wore colourful costumes outfitted with superbly crafted props.
Later that day, the floats had been additionally positioned on a public exhibition, permitting guests to view these colourful floats up-close.
A float by the Division of Tourisnm in Baguio
An Aladdin-inspired float
A wonderful float by SM Baguio
A float by Sitel
A float from IKEA Ph
A float by the Manor in Baguio
The float by Avilon Zoo that gained Second Place in Huge Float Class
The Santo Nino element from On line casino Ethyl Alcohol Float
Some particulars from Zaparita Backyard float, the winner of the Small float Class
Element from Mang Inasal Float, Second place winner of Small Float Class
WINNERS:
BIG FLOAT CATEGORY:
1st – TIEZA – Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority
2nd – Avilon Zoo
third – Sitel Philippines
SMALL FLOAT CATEGORY:
1st – Zaparita Backyard
2nd – Mang Inasal Philippines
third – Benguet Province
TIEZA Float
Avilon Zoo Float
Sitel Group Float
Zaparita Backyard
Mang Inasal Float
Benguet Province Float