City, BFFI announce new sked of Panagbenga events

February 17, 2020 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY, Feb. 14 (PIA) – Festive mood is expected to be back soon in this summer capital with the City Government and the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) announcing new schedule of the Panagbenga‘s major events that were postponed due to the threat of the 2018 novel coronavirus(COVID-19).
BFFFI co – chair Anthony De Leon, in a Kapihan media forum Wednesday, disclosed that the grand opening parade with the street dancing competition – elementary level is set on March 21 (Saturday) to be followed by the Panagbenga Cultural Show at the Melvin Jones Grandstand and Football Grounds on March 22.
The Panagbenga Grand Street Dance and the Grand Float Parade and Competitions are set on March 28 and 29, respectively while the week long Session Road in Bloom will be from March 30 – April 5.
For the other traditional events, the “Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio”, a whole day family fair that includes the “Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom” – free art painting event, open – kite flying competition and a cultural show, is set on March 15.
The Pony Boy’s Day, a day of fun, entertainment and contest among the cowboys/cowgirls and the horseback riding association of Baguio and Benguet is set at the Wright Park on April 4.
The Baguio Blooms at the Baguio Convention Center grounds, as well as the Landscaping Exhibition and Competition in the same venue and on other designated parts of the Central Business District, which opened last February 1 will continue until April 5 closing ceremonies for Panagbenga 2020.
Panagbenga is held annually from February 1 up to the first week of March, however, due to the health threats of COVID – 19 this year, the Panagbenga opening and grand parades, along with other crowd events were postponed.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong, in the same forum, emphasized that the re-scheduling of the festival’s crowd drawing events was in thorough consultation with the BFFFI Executive Committee. Magalong also reiterated that despite the COVID – 19 health concern, there has been no lockdown for Baguio and visitors continue to come in.
He assured that the city government has enhanced monitoring and response system in place as he called on the people to remain vigilant and help bring a sense of normalcy for Baguio amid the COVID – 19 health concern.

JDP/CCD-PIA CAR