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Panagbenga Festival is also known as the Flower Festival of the Philippines. It is an annual event held in Baguio City every February. Being the coolest city in the country, Baguio City has grown popular among local tourists and foreigners alike as it attracts millions of visitors, especially in time for the Panagbenga Festival.

Panagbenga Festival 2015

Panagbenga Festival will start on Feb. 1, 2015 (Sunday) and end on March 3, 2015 (Tuesday), making it a 5-week long celebration. 2015 marks the 19^th year celebration of the Panagbenga Festival, so expect a more special event next year.

Panagbenga Festival is a month-long festival celebrated annually. It always falls on the 1^st day of February until the 3^rd day of March.

Panagbenga Festival Plan for 2015

According to the news just recently after the Panagbenga Festival 2014, The Panagbenga 2014 Chairman, Anthony de Leon in his interview revealed that they are cooking something for the festival on 2015. They are in the process of discussing with the organizers of the International Hot Air Baloon Festival for the plans to involved Hot Air Balloons on the upcoming Panagbenga Festival 2015.

This is because they are always in the business of improving to make the festival better. These plans are not yet confirmed but if these will materialize the place for this Hot Air Balloons will be in the Loakan Airport which is currently not in use.

Schedule of panagbenga festival 2013

To give you a sneak peak of the Panagbenga Festival 2015, here is the line-up of events for next year’s celebration:

Feb. 1:   Grand opening parade – Panagbenga Park to Athletic Bowl

Feb. 1:   Drum and Lyre Dancing Competition – Athletic Bowl

Feb. 1 – Mar. 3: Market Encounter & Landscape Competition – Burnham Park

Feb. 9: Handong ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio (Panagbenga’s Treat to the Baguio Family) – Burnham Park

Feb. 9: Fluvial Float Parade – Burnham Park Lake

Feb. 22: Grand Street Dancing Parade – Panagbenga Park to Athletic Bowl

Feb. 23: Grand Float Parade – Panagbenga Park to Athletic Bowl

Feb. 25 – March 2: Session Road in Bloom – Session Road

March 3: Closing Ceremonies

Highlights

Panagbenga Festival is held every February and is mostly held as a month-long celebration; sometimes, it stretches until the first week of March. A few activities are prepared for the entire month of February. The main events are usually held during the weekends and the main parade is presented on the last weekend of February or first week of March, depending on the schedule arranged by the organizers. Panagbenga Festival is one of the most colorful and elegant festivals in the Philippines.

The Panagbenga festival has been the best way for the residents of Baguio to shine and showcase one of the best assets of their community.  The people of Baguio take their floats seriously. They take time in decorating these floats and really spend a lot of money to make their floats magnificent. These floats are not easy to put up. And as you see those in the grand parades, all their efforts are rewarded as you feel like you have travelled to a different dimension.

About Pahiyas Festival

What is Panagbenga?

The word Panagbenga was rooted from a Kankanaey term which means “Seasons of blooming ” or “a time for flowering”.

What is Panagbenga Festival?

Panagbenga festival is also known as the Flower Festival. This event is held annually on February and is usually celebrated as a month-long festival. The Panagbenga Festival is celebrated in Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines. Also, it is one of the most colorful and elegant among the Philippines’ festivals.

This festival is celebrated as a tribute to the beautiful flowers of Baguio City and as a way of rising up from the devastating effects of the earthquake which strike Luzon in 1990.

Panagbenga Festival: Main Attractions

Be ready to be amazed as the people of Baguio welcome you to a magnificent display of floats which are fully decorated with flowers. Also featured in this festival is the street dancing, which are composed of dancers wearing flower-themed costumes. You should come and witness this wonderful event and be a witness to the creativity of Baguio’s residents and behold the breathtaking masterpieces that they have prepared for you.

History of the Panagbenga Festival

Panagbenga Festival started out as an idea. They wanted to come up with a festival of their own which will highlight the character and substance of Baguio like that of the other towns in the Philippines.

In 1995, Atty. Damaso E. Bangaoet Jr. came up with the idea to organize a flower festival to be celebrated on February. This is a perfect month as it is in between the busy months of December and Holy Week. The idea was then presented to the different sectors of Baguio City and has yielded a positive response.

For a more in depth history, please refer to this link 

Interesting Information- Panagbenga festival

In the beginning, Panagbenga was just a series of events, celebrated for a period of 10 days, including 2 weekends. As time goes by, Panagbenga has grown popular among local tourists and foreigners alike that it has extended to three weeks, at first, and now has stretched to a month-long celebration.

The Panagbenga festival usually receives huge media coverage due to its popularity. Every year, Baguio City is packed with a huge crowd of tourists, composed of local tourists and foreigners alike. With the festivals beauty and the cool weather of Baguio City, you will enjoy the Panagbenga Festival.

The Panagbenga festival will be celebrating its 19^th year in 2015. The organizers promised to give us a special event on 2015. Be sure to plan ahead and don’t miss this spectacular festival.

Recommendations-  Panagbenga festival

Book your hotel early: Be sure to plan your visit and book your accommodations early as they tend to be fully booked months before the event is held. Also, it is best to book on the last week of February or the first week of March so you can witness the main events. The grand parade of floats is usually presented on the last Sunday of the Panagbenga Festival.

Bring your camera: Don’t forget to bring your cameras as you will be seeing a lot of beautiful floats and spectacular masterpieces made of flowers, street dancers plus the natural beauty Baguio City beholds. Be sure to bring an extra memory for your cameras and capture as much sight as you can.

Visit the bazaars and surplus shops: Also, while in Baguio City, you should not miss on their bazaars and other shops which sell surplus items. You can find great bargains here (if you are not too choosy with clothes). You can buy unique pieces for as low as 65 pesos (around 1.60 each)

When is the Panagbenga Festival 2016

Panagbenga Festival will take place on the February 01, Monday until March 03, 2016 which is Thursday.

Useful Information

Location: Baguio City

Date: Panagbenga Festival starts on the First week of February and ends by the end of the month. Sometimes, the celebration is stretched until the first week of March.

Panagbenga Festival will start on Feb. 1, 2015 (Sunday) and end on March 3, 2015 (Tuesday).

How to get there:

By bus: You can book a trip via Victory Liner to Baguio City. There is a lot of bus terminals scattered around Metro Manila with trips going to Baguio City. These buses usually have daily trips going there. Travel period usually lasts for 6-7 hours.

Fee: None

Don't be shellfish...