No overt politicking in Baguio Flower Fest

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – National and local politicians who intend to gain exposure during the Baguio Flower Festival, beware!

Overt politicking during the 15th staging of the Panagbenga Festival is a big no-no, especially during the grand street dancing and float parade on Feb. 27 and 28, organizers said.

As long as they abide by the rules, politicians are welcome, said Anthony de Leon, chairman of the privately run but government-supported event, which has been drawing millions of tourists from all over every year.

But the candidates cannot join the street dancing as they could interrupt the event by shaking hands with the spectators, De Leon said.

The politicians, according to De Leon, will only be allowed to join the float parade “if they have their own floats, too.” They, however, cannot go down from their floats to woo voters, he added.  

Their floats, too, should follow the theme of the Panagbenga Festival and should not carry any political stickers, flyers or tarpaulins.

The festival’s street dancing and float parade, which attract at least 200,000 spectators along Baguio’s main streets, have proven to be a perfect venue for political candidates.

In the past several years, especially during the 2004 and 2007 elections, national candidates joined the parade, but got jeers instead.

In 2007, Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. personally dissuaded then Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando from bringing his own float, warning, “Baguio residents do not want politics within Panagbenga.” Fernando never showed up.

In 2007, administration candidates joined the second day of the revelry on board a float. One of them, Prospero Pichay, even had his own Surigao-surfing float while his helicopter hovered above the whole time, drowning out the music of the Panagbenga brass band. None of the administration candidates won here.

Festival organizers though have yet to reveal if any presidential hopefuls or other candidates intend to join this year’s event.