Baguio Panagbenga (Flower) Festival 2011

My family and some friends came to Baguio City last 25-27 February to see the 16th Panagbenga or Flower Festival. It is the local counterpart of the Rose Parade in California. The parade of 22 floats is the highlight of the two week-long celebration. For most of us, its our first time to see the parade in person.

Unfortunately, we arrived late so I did not get front row position, and missed the floats of Baguio City and Camp John Hay. Estimated expense per float is at least Php 300k, due to the volume of flowers that each participant use. Camp John Hay grows their own flowers to use for the event, and they are excluded from the contest since they are Hall of Fame awardee. 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, hence there are many floats with rabbit figures.

Below is the float of Aegis BPO (call center) company

B-Meg feedmill company float of pig and fish figures with chicken mascot

Choco Mucho snack float with beautiful ladies showing the choco bars

A bahay kubo (nipa hut) float

Marching bands from PMA, Univ. of Luzon and Univ. of Cavite also joined the parade. There were also 16 drum & lyre bands who participated on the parade, like below.

Coca-Cola's 2 floats which disappointingly used minimal fresh flowers. The crowd would have enjoyed the parade better if they have given free Coke products, hehe.

Red Horse beer float with a lady in red. Ito ang tama!

Department of Tourism float with Sec. Lim, but many people doesn't know him.

La Trinidad's float with strawberry theme 

LBC's float with motorcyclist theme. Hari ng Padala or Parada?

Cebuana Lhuiller-Xoom-Money Gram float

 

vs. competitor M Lhuiller float. Pawnshops and money remittance centers seem to be enjoying good business here in Baguio.

Dunkin Donut's nice float marking their 30th anniversary in the country. Perhaps their brewed coffee is very popular on this cold climate.

For the kids? Jollibee float with opening flower bud and kids in swing. Bida ang saya!

Industrial company Union Steel float with rotating globe figure.

Electronics giant Samsung float

Manila North Tollways Corp. float. Well, they can afford the float and gorgeous dancers, since they made lots of money from almost 1M people who trooped to Baguio from Manila to see the flower festival.

SM Baguio's nice float. Where's Henry Sy? 

TV5 float with comedian Empoy who seem popular with the crowd, beating Sam Milby and Enchong Dee among the TV personalities who joined the parade. 

Last but not the least, Efficascent oil's float with Avatar film motiff. The dragon-like creature's wing and the hanging rocks' are moving with sound, fire, and fog effects. Its a guest float, having won the parade in Sinulog Festival. How about Tiger Balm, Bengay, or Salonpas floats next year?

If you want to see the parade next time, book early in the local hotels. Also, prepare to deal with the huge crowd, heavy vehicular traffic, and crowded restaurants.

Enjoy the festive mood on this cool city!