Panagbenga bans 'epal' pols

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Although organizers of the crowd-drawing Baguio Flower Festival said political campaign is banned in the festivities, political figures may join in the revelries.

“We are not stopping politicians from joining”, Anthony de Leon, co-chairman of the private sector initiated but government-supported festival,  said but  added that politicians should refrain from decorating Baguio with their campaign materials.

The month-long festival started on February 1 and ends on March 3.   The highlight of the festival is the grand street dancing on February 23 and  the float parade the day after.

Candidates except Baguio City incumbent officials who are running this May cannot join the street dancing parade though they will be welcomed at the Athletic Bowl program after,  De Leon said,  citing the organizers’ six-point “policy on political participation”.

The policy states that the Grand Street Parade is not a political event nor should it be construed as a venue for one.

For several elections since 2001,  the twin parades – street dancing and float — had been the venue of election campaigning for national candidates. Recent events however  prompted organizers to ban political campaigning during the events.

In 2001, senatorial bets joined the street dancing and even paraded ahead of the flower-clad street dancing kids. Heavy rains however fell just as the candidates  passed along Session Road, leaving the young street dancers soaked in rain.

In 2004,  a senatorial bet from the south was permitted to throw flowers-confetti at the Session road aboard a helicopter but instead “showered us with garbage,”  said De Leon.  The candidate lost including most of his teammates from the administration party.

In 2007, senatorial bets still joined the festivities, but toned down their gimmickry.

Politicians who insist on violating the policy, De Leon said, shall be “politely removed” from the twin parades.

Organizers have  bended a little and allowed politicians to sponsor any contingent but the politicians are barred from requring the contingent to carry, distribute or display any of their posters, leaflets or merchandise that shall bear their names, political party of pictures. 

“Politicians can have their own floats,” de Leon said, “but bawal bumababa sa float at makipagkamay.”

Organizers expect the  crowd  during the festivities to double on the 24th because of the long weekend.

February 25 is a holiday as the country marks the anniversary of Edsa 1.

Politician-bets could also parade their floats but should be 95 percent fresh flower-adorned and 5 percent “politics”.

Last year, former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar had her float under the Villar Foundation showcasing the successes of women entrepreneurs.

Villar who is now running under the Liberal Party coalition, reportedly opted to stay out of the 18-piece flower float parade this year. - Artemio A. Dumlao