Panagbenga Festival 2010 (Baguio Flower Festival 2010)

FOR THIS year, Baguio City will be celebrating the 15th installment of Panagbenga Festival, popularly known as the Baguio Flower Festival.

The Festival theme this year is “Celebrating 15 years of Festival Excellence.”

Here is the full schedule of events:

February 1, 2010 (Monday) – Opening Parade
February 1 – Mar 7 – Market Encounter
February 13 (Saturday) – Chinese New Year
February 12-14 (Friday to Sunday) – Legarda Rocks
February 14 (Sunday) – Fluvial Parade
February 14 (Sunday) – Camelot on the Lake
February 20 (Saturday) – Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom
February 20-22 (Saturday to Monday) – PMA Homecoming
February 26-28 (Friday to Sunday)– Abanao Nights
February 27 (Saturday) – Grand Street Parade
February 28 (Sunday) – Grand Float Parade
March 1-7 (Monday to Sunday) – Session Road in Bloom
March 6 (Saturday) – Pony Boys Day

Getting To Know: BAGUIO CITY, BENGUET

Zigzag road going to Baguio City

ORIGINALLY, Baguio City was a settlement camp of American troops during their occupation in 1900s where they patterned the architecture of houses and buildings after their homes in the United States. And to easily access the neighboring towns, they have constructed Kennon Road; a highway known for its narrow and challenging turns. Apparently, this changed its peaceful face to a city of merchants and uncontrolled migrants from surrounding towns. When Americans left, more settlers invaded the thriving city and soon turned into a crowded district of mixed locals and vacationing tourists who come mainly for its temperate climate.

Baguio Cathedral

The city’s economy moved progressively despite the absence of the founding Americans. Parks, Gardens, Museums, markets and shopping malls were established everywhere and perhaps elevated the rapid rise of tourism. Big growth on hotels, lodging houses, restaurants and bars is increasing every year. Aside from farming, locals shifted to handicrafts to sustain the rising demand of market coming from tourism. Because of this Baguio famed itself as the best place to go for cheap wood carvings and fabric weavings. These shops are all over the city market and nearby town markets of Asin and Trinidad.

Fresh Flowers of Baguio

Baguio illustrates an ambiance of people wearing warm outfits all year around. If you only see Philippines as a tropical country, visiting Baguio somehow changes that view. Filipinos regarded this city amidst the towering peaks of the Cordillera, as the summer capital of the country, where they can move away from the irritating heat during summer.

Panagbenga Festival celebrates the bountiful harvest of flowers

To get there, Victory Liner, bus company based in Pasay City along Edsa, has departures for Baguio in the morning daily. You can also take your car. From Balintawak take North Expressway and get off at Dau Exit. Pass by Tarlac, Urdaneta and Pozzorubio. Before reaching Rosario, you may see a junction (Kennon Road) to Baguio. Skip that way, and at about 500 meters, you will see a newly constructed road with a signboard "to Baguio". Other routes such as Naguillian Road from Bauang, or Marcos Highway from Agoo are good options for people who may want to enjoy first the beaches of La Union.