Flower power and then some!

MANILA, Philippines –  The invitation to Panagbenga, the annual Baguio Flower Festival, was a yearly courtesy, more like a ritual. But the timing was always far from ideal. But in 2010, the gods were kinder. The charm worked; they broke the spell. As the official representative of the Department of Tourism, I participated in the street dancing and joined the Philippine Tourism Authority float. Thus began my love affair with Panagbenga.

Fast track to 2011 – same time, this year.

Now, as private citizen with family and friends from Cebu in tow, we drove to the summer capital, from close to midnight to early dawn in order not to miss the most important weekend that capped the month-long series of celebrations commemorating Panagbenga 2011, the 16th Baguio Flower Festival with “The Environment and Community in Harmony” as its theme.

Panagbenga, a word derived from Kankanaey, a local dialect, which means “a season of blooming,” was founded in 1995 to showcase the area’s history, traditions and customs, arts and culture, attractions and entertainment, cuisine and shopping, products and services through the beautiful and alluring world of plants and flowers during this enchanting time of irresistible weather, ideal for parades.

Samsung endorser hearthrob Sam Milby smiles as fans applaud and shriek.

After less than forty winks but determined not to lose precious time, we headed for Le Chef at The Manor and surprise, it was already crowded, as almost all seats were occupied. We wondered if there were any guests left in their respective rooms, for after all, The Manor, our home for the duration of the visit, has 122 rooms and 57 suites. But fortunately the amiable Rosary Ysmael had reserved a table for my neophyte group of four.

Appropriately dressed from head to toe, complete with comfortable walking shoes and the ever-present cellphones and handy cameras, we found ourselves in front of the Panagbenga Park where we renewed acquaintances with Baguio City Mayor Mariano Domogan, congressman of the lone district of Baguio Bernardo Vergara, Baguio Country Club general manager and chairman of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, father of Panagbenga, Damaso Bangaoet, Jr., Philippine National Police’s Col. Engelbert Soriano and chief of staff of Panagbenga 2011, Dangal Amboy Guevarra. We likewise met the festival’s guest of honor, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.

Our host Freddie Aquiros, co-chair of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, urged us to be a part of the parade and we gamely agreed. So, as the clock struck eight and the first notes of the endearing Panagbenga Hymn, a masterpiece of a composition by Dr. Macario Faronda, blared away, the grand street dancing parade started.

It was a mammoth, disciplined crowd with road marshals gently reminding them of the rules of the day. Everywhere we looked was a sea of mankind – an entire community eagerly waiting for the spectacle to unravel. Everywhere there was uncontrollable excitement on their faces!

Young Igorot men on the Union Galvasteel Corporation float

By the time we turned to good old Session Road, the sheer magnetism of the exhilarating thrill of the people provoked us to splinter away, quickly forming our own pack of watchers with Rosary and her busy group of over 30 photographers and journalists settled by the middle island.

From our vantage point, we saw them all: police on flower decked motorcycles, Baguio City officials, several barangay leaders, the Philippine Military Academy band cheerfully filled the air with the rhythmic melody of the now-humable Panagbenga hymn, the confident PMA cadets, impeccable in their uniforms, in perfect cadence, Japanese and Koreans in their national dress supporting the notion that the city is indeed a melting pot.

Majorettes and marching bands, some more talented than others but nonetheless equally energetic, and the never-ending retinue of street dancers, students from elementary to college levels, bursting with vim, vigor and vitality, some with flowers in their hair, others with creative headgear, but all impressively attired, some in tribal costumes and others in a rainbow of colors of made-to-order costumes complete with bilaos, fans and what-have-yous to draw the attention of the by-now-easy-to-please crowds. They swayed and danced their well-rehearsed steps, accompanied by the lively beat as they zoomed in and out past us with gusto.

At the dawning of the next day, the day of the Grand Float Parade, the culmination of the 30-day series of activities, we – all fast learners by now – enjoyed an early leisurely breakfast buffet before the multitude of guests would descend upon us.

We then blissfully settled in our choice viewing positions that money could not buy, in plenty of time. We soon noticed the crowds had multiplied overnight. Believe us when we say that there was not a space to sit on, nor a spot to stand in. It was full of warm bodies, all anxious for the annual extravaganza.

It was a spectacular spectacle! Absolutely, a movable feast for the senses!

Led by the Philippine Military Academy Color Guards accompanied by their cadets – our future military leaders – marching to the sound of their band and interspersed by the drum and lyre corps from 16 schools, award-winning bands from colleges and universities, 50 Boy and Girl Scouts bearing panels exhibiting “let a thousand flowers bloom” paintings and more city officials, the floral floats, all 21 of them, rolled in effortless, sans any hitches or glitches.

Decked out with trees and plants, twigs and branches, barks and roots, seeds and fruits, the moving gardens – some with water fountains – were covered mostly by flowers such as the iconic everlasting flower, carnations, milflores, anthuriums, snapdragons, golden mums, chrysanthemums, dendrobiums, falling birds, wonder whites and even roses and tulips.

As we contentedly sat there, we could not completely disregard the reaction from those present – from sedated oohs and aahs, to reserved applause and cheers, to the almost unruly whistles and howls, the uncontrollable shrieks and screams of “I love you” addressed to matinee idols Sam Milby, Empress Schuck, Enchong Dee, Aj Perez, Joseph Marco to name but a few.

Our favorite floats – all environmental themed, some eventually landed in the judges’ roster of winners – were San Miguel Brewery Red Horse, The Department of Tourism – no biases please – Samsung with their celebrity endorsers and the SM City Baguio fantastic fairyland gardens with pixie-sized fairies.

As we were preparing to say our goodbyes, we asked our ever gracious host Freddie Alquiros what was in store for Panagbenga 2012, hoping for innovations to sustain visitors’ interest. He immediately responded, “Whatever we do next year – maybe a possible combination of something different, something adapted, something new, whatever… Panagbenga will always be enough reason to come back to Baguio, not just on the festive holiday season, nor the brief Easter break or the long summer months.”

Trust me, knowing Freddie it will be more than enough to revisit and once again be amazed and awed by the Baguio Flower Festival, a successfully community-led and government-supported festival, a fabulous delight of all senses.

Mabuhay Panagbenga!