THE 13th version of the Baguio flower festival or Panagbenga 2008 was launched at the City Hall lobby last Monday with City Government officials and employees in attendance, and with the theme “Celebrating 13 years of Caring.”

The program moved on with the presence of Baguio Representative Mauricio Domogan, while Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. declared the official launching of the flower festival.

The Saint Louis University Glee Club (Baguio’s most notorious choir) rendered the invocation and a presentation for the program, while a press conference followed at the City Hall multi-purpose hall after the ceremonies.

Queries and information as to the proceedings for the flowerfest were then addressed by city officials headed by Domogan.

In a letter from the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI) executive committee which was officially mandated to head Panagbenga 2008, traditional and innovative activities shall run from February 1 to March 2 next year, bannering a “One City, One Panagbenga” endeavor.

Expected to be implemented during Panagbenga 2008 are traditional flower-inspired activities like the “Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom” painting contest, an opening parade, drum and lyre competitions, a market encounter, a grand floral parade, a float parade and “Session Road in Bloom” in prime places within the city.

Other activities such as the Pony Boys Day, the Mr. Panagbenga body-building contest, a barangay roadside as well as parks landscaping and beautification contest, a golf tournament, a marathon and other sports events are also expected during the flowerfest.

Innovative and novel activities are still being planned, the letter from the executive committee states further.

An assurance from the BFFFI executive committee was also given that as Panagbenga is a “community-based, private sector-led and government-supported event,” concepts and standards of the festival as originally conceptualized, with the ultimate purpose of providing wholesome and outstanding events and activities, will be “appreciated by both the residents and visitors of the City of Baguio and Benguet.”

The executive committee and the committees for the different activities, as created in an earlier administrative order, are composed of government officials, representatives from national line agencies, the academe, professional groups, business people, non-government agencies, flower growers, sports enthusiasts and members of the media.

The Panagbenga started as a flower-inspired, flower-themed festival 13 years ago to boost the tourism industry every February, considered then to be a lull month between the Christmas celebration and the busy, crowded Holy Week and summer vacation rush.

Here is the Schedule of events for this year’s Panagbenga 2008:

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