Panagbenga to go full blast next year

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Next year’s Panagbenga Festival will go full blast, according to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

“We will proceed as planned with the celebration and there will be no holds barred and letup. I see no hindrance so far, kaya full blast at go na tayo,” he said during the launch of the Flower Festival at the city hall on Monday.

Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. officers led by its chairman, former mayor Mauricio Domogan, and Department of Tourism-Cordillera director Jovy Ganongan were among the officials who attended the launch.

Magalong said next year’s festival, with the theme ”Renaissance of Wonder and Beauty,” would be a ”reset button” after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic.

He said he is excited, but ”feeling a bit of anxiety” due to the expected increase in COVID cases caused by its variants as well as  influenza cases.

Magalong advised the public to continue to wear face masks both indoors and outdoors.

He said the city government is formulating contingency plans to ensure the safety of residents and visitors during the Panagbenga Festival.

Next year’s festival will include a street dance and float parade, which have been canceled since 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

Before the pandemic, the festival was launched every November and opened on the first day of February of the succeeding year.