Panagbenga Festival 2013: Seeing stars among the flowers

MANILA, Philippines - I always knew I’m indeed a sucker for pilgrimages, and many times over at that! But little did I ever suspect I was steadily becoming a sucker for festivals as well, the Panagbenga Flower Festival ranks high on my list.

But admittedly, it took some time coming for during my marketing and promotional days — make that over 33 wonderful years — with the Department of Tourism, I could never attend for reasons too many to mention.

During my last year in government service in 2010, the forces became favorable and the gods were kinder and I finally made it, not as a passive observer but an active participant. I even landed at the award-winning Tourism family float with Mark Lapid, GM of the then-Philippine Tourism Authority and now the CEO of Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, and Pura Molintas, still the present tourism regional director for Cordillera Administrative Region.

Panagbenga, an auspicious word for a season of blossoming, a time for flowering, is derived from the rich vocabulary of the indigenous tribe Kankana-ey. This year, now on its 18th annual celebration, the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc., picked (pun intended) for its theme, A Blossoming Odyssey, symbolic of the origins of the six-week long festival. From an initiative to boost travel and tourism activities within the city and its surroundings, it is now on a promising path toward becoming what many visitors arguably declare to be one of the best among the several festivals in the country, most especially in an archipelago that boasts of there-is-a-fiesta-somewhere-in-some-barangay-in-some-island-every-day-of-the-year. That’s a true accomplishment by any standard.

The veterans that we claim to be of the actual February festivities compelled by the not-so-predictable highway situation, traveling toward the country’s summer capital, coupled with the moving around the city’s up-and-down, not-so-easy-to-remember alleys and narrow pathways — without mentioning the many curves and turns, oh I could go on and on — we once again, as we did years past, tapped barrio resident Rene Laguit, a driver par excellence from the Big Boss Cars, an entrepreneurial venture by the Tan brothers Richard, Ronald, Rowan and Robin, which rents out the most comfortable vans with captain seats. Rene removes all our road concerns, assuring us of hassle-free movements from points A to B — and boy, we almost went down the entire alphabet with him during our four-day visit.

Due to mom’s birthday — though she has long passed on — where and when we siblings get together in Cebu for a close-corporation, loving commemoration of her memory, we only arrived at our desired destination of the North the very late afternoon before the highlight of the festivities, the Panagbenga Float Parade. Keeping me company were my sister Honey Jarque-Loop, brother-in-law Glenn Loop and Cebu-based pals Lizette Garcia and Marisol Michael.

We quickly joined more friends led by Rosary Ysmael-Palanca and Ika Ismael at The Manor on Camp John Hay, the once-upon-a-time military recreational camp now prides with its 180 well-appointed rooms and 54 suites, without a doubt, my home away from home. Its paneled walls and wooden furniture evoke a Filipino-colonial feel, with wooden shutter doors that widely open to a welcoming patio with a scenic view of tranquility. It certainly emulates the fond and endearing memories of the old Baguio that we all miss so terribly.

The Manor’s tradition called for the meticulously-prepared, much-awaited dinner at the ground floor’s Le Chef Restaurant jointly co-hosted by the property’s managing director Heinrich Maulbecker with GM Ramon Cabrera and the legendary Chef Billy King, the genius at the kitchen and service helm.

Naturally, far from being the neophytes that we were once, we had an early good-to-last-us-till-dinnertime breakfast. We indulged in anticipation for those just-in-case moments, which we hope never arises. Appropriately dressed, with perfect-fit walking shoes and ready cameras in hand, off we go to the Panagbenga Park, the starting point of the much-talked-about Floral Parade, where we exchanged welcome-to-Baguio and glad-to-be-here pleasantries with Rep. Bernardo Vergara, Mayor Mauricio Domongan, Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas, Baguio Flower Festival Foundation chairman Freddie Alquiros and co-chair Anthony de Leon, and other dignitaries.

We soon settled down into our usual greatest viewing point of the entire moving tableau — the street island dividing the two lanes of popular, iconic Session Road. At exactly eight in the morning, several bands simultaneously blared away the Panagbenga Hymn, a brilliant yet easy-to-hum composition by Saint Louis University dean Macario Fronda. The parade began.

A small contingent of cadets from the Philippine Military Academy — needless to remind everyone they are our future military leaders — marched into the city’s main street to the beat of drums and lyre, looking snappy in their gala uniforms.

A delegation of smiling Girl Scouts of the Philippines, bearing panels of various floral paintings, all winners of a previously-held competition.

Colorful floats of different shapes and sizes followed one by one, with distinctive artistry and individual craftsmanship, all moving gardens in full bloom, all beautiful sights to see and behold. There were flowers and more flowers — name it, and it was represented. I recall seeing roses of different hues, milflores whose sheer size amazed everyone, birds of paradise, carnations, and golden mums, anthuriums, and geraniums, vandas and dendrobiums, orchids from phalaenopsis to cattleyas. Did I spot some tulips? And how can I forget to mention the region’s export to the world, the everlasting?

The floats, likewise, showcased lush plants such as fishtails and ferns, trees and shrubs, branches and twigs, seeds, moss, tree trunks and tree barks — even fresh vegetables! And I could go on and on.

Just taking it all in brought memories of the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, which I was blessed to witness on several New Year’s Days while I served as tourism attaché based in the exciting city of Los Angeles.

Countless cameras went clicking away at a speed difficult to imagine as crowds’ responses escalated from reserved applause to almost unruly whistles and howls as the beautiful people — some beauty titleholders — made their way.

They included Ms. Earth 2012 first runner-up Stephanie Stefanowitz, Manhunt Int’l 2012 titleholder Jun Macasaet and Miss Tourism International Rizzini Alexis Gomez. On the Smart Communications entry was Daniel Matsunaga standing solo on its sides to get closer to his fans.

Midway through the parade, my company and I opted to revise our usual Panagbenga itinerary and decided to walk down the entire parade route. Usually overtaking floats, bands, dancing girls, cheerleaders and other performers, we soon pleasantly discovered how disciplined the people were with unmistakable excitement written all over their faces. The sidewalks and every possible space were fully packed with locals and tourists.

Order and safety was enforced. Road marshals — all volunteers — were designated to posts in, say, every 15 yards, gently reminding the eager spectators the rules of the day. Closely watching over the entire community were medics from several hospitals and clinics who readily and quickly responded to emergencies in a few seconds — truly admirable.

By this time, we heard uncontrollable shrieks, similar hysterical shrills only honest-to-goodness movie fans can be capable of. And true enough, film and television stars soon made their appearances.

Gary Valenciano beamed to squealing fans from the M. Lhuillier Padala entry. Robin Padilla led the ABS-CBN moving garden with his Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw co-stars Xyriel Manabat, Smokey Manaloto, Marco Gumabao, Melay Cantiveros and director Bb. Joyce Bernal. Sen. Bong Revilla headed GMA Network’s floral version of TV series Indio’s set along with his castmates, Rhian Ramos, Ehra Madrigal, Sheena Halili, Ryza Cenon and Vaness del Moral.

By the time we finally reached the huge Baguio Athletic Bowl where thousands upon thousands waited patiently on the stands for hours, the sounds of shrieks and squeals almost became unbearable, as the emcees acknowledged and described each parade participant upon arrival as Cordillera culture in song and dance provided entertainment.

“It’s the best in 18 years,” proudly stated Anthony de Leon, this year’s co-chair of the Baguio Flower Foundation, while chairman Freddie Alquiros assured us the organizers will continue “to adapt, to incorporate, to innovate and to improve,” giving visitors another reason to visit Baguio.

You can count me in. Hope you’ll be there to join the festivities — a genuine celebration of life.