About Panagbenga 2013

OVERVIEW: Panagbenga is an annual flower festival celebrated every February which takes place in Baguio City, Philippines. The term Panagbenga comes from a Kankanaey term meaning season of blooming. This festival reflects the history, traditions and values of Baguio and the Cordilleras. It lasts over a month long and flourishes through community spirit involvement. MISSION: The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) operates, organizes and manages the Panagbenga Festival to boost the tourism of Baguio and the rest of the Cordilleras through showcasing various events, exhibitions and activities that promote the history, traditions and values of Baguio and the Cordilleras which is sustained in an earthfriendly manner. VISION: The Panagbenga Festival shall be known as the BEST FESTIVAL in the Philippines becoming the benchmark for excellence in the conduct of other festivals in the Country.

Session Road in Bloom

A week-long event featuring expositions by the food and other hospitality establishments in the City and in the Country. It is during this event that Session Road is closed to vehicular traffic and Session Road becomes an alfresco dining spot complemented by open-air concerts and performances. WHEN: Last Monday of February to First Sunday of March WHERE: Session Road WHAT TO EXPECT: 1. 2. 3. 4. Food carts and cafes Various shops Concerts and Entertainment Stilt walkers

5.

BAGUIO CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

The Baguio Convention & Visitors Bureau (BCVB), a private sector led, non-stock, membership-based organization, is tasked to promote tourism attractions, activities, and events of Metro Baguio. It is the marketing and promotions arm of the Baguio Tourism Council (BTC) and is under the umbrella group of the North Philippine Visitors Bureau (NPVB). The BCVB is working in tandem with the Manila North Tollways

Corporation (MNTC) which has given birth to the high profile marketing thrust called Rediscover the North through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

6.

BAGUIO COUNTRY CLUB

The Baguio Country Club hails from an immensely rich history of more than one hundred colorful years in the hospitality industry. The Clubs remarkable 100 years of existence was celebrated in the year 2005 where its humble beginnings, memorable events and fond memories were cherished in a historical marker- a recognition by the National Historical Institute and was captured in a time capsule. Established in 1905, the Baguio Country Club has earned its reputation not only as one of the most prestigious membership Clubs in the country but most importantly as a cradle of historical events.

7.

THE MANOR
Tourists now have another good reason to frequent the City of Pines! The Manor is not only distinguished by its impressive architecture and cozy interiors, but also blessed with an environment that truly sets it apart from other hotels in Baguio City. This four-storey structure, designed to blend neatly with towering pine trees, provides a magnificent view of the Cordillera mountain range. Here, one can literally open windows to cool, fresh air.

8.

HOTEL & RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION OF BAGUIO

Multi-sectoral group that are stakeholders of the Toursim Industry in the City of Baguio

9.

SMART COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is the Philippines leading wireless services provider with 52.1 million subscribers on its GSM network as of end-September 2012.

Smart has built a reputation for innovation, having introduced world-first wireless offerings such as Smart Money, Smart Load, Smart Padala, the Netphone, and Smart LTEthe worlds first multi-band LTE service. Smart also offers 3G and HSPA+ services, while its satellite service, Smart Link, provides communications to the global maritime industry. Smart Broadband, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, offers a wireless broadband service, Smart Broadband, with 1.69 million subscribers as of end-September 2012.

10.

PIXELHUB CREATIVE
Pixelhub Creative is a full service marketing communications & digital media innovations agency specializing in branding, creative consultancy, content management system, application development, and social media strategy for businesses across industries here and abroad. Since our inception in 2006, we have emerged as one formidable creative multimedia solutions company using the most advanced technologies and hip innovations in design and application development. With affiliates in the Middle East, Netherlands, Denmark, Singapore, Australia, United Kingdom and the United States, Pixelhub Creative is also a sister company of The Paper Boat Creative in Manila/London.

11.

JOLLIBEE
Jollibee is the largest fast food chain in the Philippines, operating a nationwide network of over 750 stores. A dominant market leader in the Philippines, Jollibee enjoys the lions share of the local market that is more than all the other multinational brands combined. The company has also embarked on an aggressive international expansion plan in the USA, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei, firmly establishing itself as a growing international QSR player.

12.

JOHN HAY MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

John Hay Management Corporation is committed in transforming Camp John Hay into the countrys world -class mountain tourism haven, maintaining an ecologically-balanced environment, and fostering unity in cultural diversity. As steward of Camp John Hay, JHMC commits itself to transform and promote the Camp for tourism, human resource development center, and multiple use forest watershed reservation while protecting, conserving, and enhancing the John Hay Forest Watershed area.

13.

GILIGANS ISLAND
Authentic Filipino meals cooked to satisfy your cravings. Truly a must try for its excellent and generous service of approachable people.

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VILLA CORDILLERA
VILLA CORDILLERAperched in the midst of pine trees, misty mornings, views the fog cloaked mountains of the Cordillera, where sights and sounds of nature call into the weary traveller for a warm and relaxing stay.

15.

BITSTOP NETWORK SERVICES

BNSHosting is a service of Bitstop Network Services Inc. We are composed of a group of certified professionals in both hardware (Comptia+), Security (EC-Council, Security+) and Software (Microsoft, Cisco). Our clients are our partners. When our partners succeed, we succeed along with them. Our aim is to promote online businesses and provide our partners with the service to help them get their objectives. Our network is powered by multiple carriers using multiple links Fiber, Microwave and Copper. We have one of the most interconnected networks in the country.

16.

GLOBE
Globe is a leading telecommunications company in the Philippines. Our mission is to transform and enrich lives through communications by way of our vision of making great things possible. Through our renewed commitment to enriching lives through ease and relevance, our goal is to enrich everyday communications by simplifying and removing obstacles in communication technology so that we bring our customers closer to what matters to them most.

17.

TV5
TV5 (formerly known as ABC 5) is a major Filipino commercial television network based in Novaliches, Quezon City, Philippines. It is owned and operated by the ABC Development Corporation, solely owned by MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the beneficial trust fund of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company headed by business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan.

18.

CITY OF BAGUIO
The name Baguio conjures, for both the international and domestic traveler, a highland retreat in the Grand Cordillera in Northern Luzon, with pine trees, crisp cold breezes and low verdant knolls and hillocks. Through the numerous decades Baguio has morphed from what was once a grassy marshland into one of the cleanest and greenest, most highly urbanized cities in the country. It has made its mark as a premiere tourist destination in the Northern part of the Philippines with its cool climate, foggy hills, panoramic views and lovely flowers.

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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
The Department of Tourism (DOT) shall be the primary government agency charged with the responsibility to encourage, promote, and develop tourism as a major socio-economic activity to generate foreign currency and employment and to spread the benefits of tourism to both the private and public sector.

20.

PEPSI COLA
Pepsi-Cola came to the Philippines through John Clarkin, a native of Minnesota, USA, who came with the American forces at the close of World War II. On October 16, 1946, Clarkin acquired a franchise to bottle Pepsi in the Philippines. He consequently founded the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of the Philippine Islands Ltd. and became its president and general manager.

21.

SAN MIGUEL BREWERY

San Miguel Brewery Inc. (SMB) is the largest producer of beer in the Philippines, with a total market share of approximately more than 95% in 2008. The Company has five breweries strategically located across the Philippines and a highly developed distribution system serving approximately 471,000 retail outlets. SMB carries a portfolio of eight strong and popular beer brands: San Mig Light, Red Horse Beer, Cerveza Negra, Gold Eagle Beer, San Miguel Strong Ice, San Miguel Super Dry, San Miguel Premium All-Malt Beerand its flagship brand San Miguel Pale Pilsen.

22.

SUN CELLULAR
Digitel Mobile Philippines, Inc. (DMPI), commercially known as Sun Cellular is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Digitel, and is one of the Philippines leading mobile telecommunications companies. It was established by DIGITEL in September 2001 to provide wireless public and private telecommunications services. Sun Cellular, offers a wide range of service innovations for mobile telephony from voice, messaging and international roaming services, to wireless broadband and value-added services for consumers and businesses alike. It has received accolades over the years with awards such as the Most Promising Telecom Service Provider in Asia Pacific award in the 2009 Frost & Sullivan ICT Award in Singapore.

23.

VICTORY LINER
Victory Liner, Inc. is one of the largest provincial bus companies operating in the Philippines. This bus company played a major role in transport industry since it became the product of Japanese occupation in the country after World War II. Today, Victory Liner, Inc. has grown as one of the largest bus transportation business groups in the Philippines, servicing all key destinations in Northern Luzon. As of today, Victory Liner deploys more than 900 buses in its daily operations. The company is a sister company of Five Star Bus Company.

24.

PLDT
Founded on November 28, 1928, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) is the leading telecommunications provider in the Philippines. Through its three principal business groups fixed line, wireless, and information and communication technology PLDT offers the largest and most diversified range of telecommunications services across the Philippines most extensive fiber optic backbone and fixed line, cellular and satellite networks. PLDT is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE:TEL) and its American Depositary Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:PHI). PLDT has one of the largest market capitalizations among Philippine-listed companies.

25.

2GO EXPRESS
2GO Express is the official carrier of Panagbenga 2013. 2GO Group Inc. is the largest, premier logistics provider in the Philippines. The group owns and operates successful brands such as 2GO Travel, 2GO Freight, 2GO Express, and 2GO Logistics, offering an array of logistics and travel services.

26.

2GO TRAVEL
2GO Group Inc. is the largest, premier logistics provider in the Philippines. The group owns and operates successful brands such as 2GO Travel, 2GO Freight, 2GO Express, and 2GO Logistics, offering an array of logistics and travel services.

27.

HANES

28.

INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL INC

International Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IPI) was born out of the desire of one family to enhance the quality of human life by producing health care products at affordable prices. They started out as a liniment business with Efficascent Oil, a product that they firmly believed in. Inspired by their vision of becoming a major player in the pharmaceutical industry, coupled with patience and perseverance, their dream slowly became a reality. The company eventually succeeded in gaining a sizable market share because of employees who believed in them as well as the people who trusted their products.

29.

SPLASH CORPORATION
Splash Corporation is a 100% Filipino-owned, publicly-listed company. The company was founded by the husband and wife tandem of Dr. Rolando Hortaleza and Dr. Rosalinda Ang-Hortaleza. The company has been consistently at the Top 300 corporations in the Philippines since 1998 and one of the biggest players in the personal care industry. It is only the Filipino company to be in the top 10 companies of the industry. As of December 12, 2010, the company has a total market capitalization of P1.5 billion. Its share price is P2.27.

30.

ELECTROLUX
Electrolux is a global leader in home appliances and appliances for professional use, selling more than 40 million products to customers in 150 countries every year. Our focus is on innovations that are thoughtfully designed, based on extensive consumer insight, to meet the real needs of consumers and professionals. Our products include refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, vacuum cleaners and cookers sold under esteemed brands such as Electrolux, AEG-Electrolux, Zanussi, Eureka and Frigidaire. In 2009, Electrolux had sales of SEK 109 billion and 51,000 employees.

31.

THUNDERBIRD RESORTS

Nestled amid sprawling blues and greens, Thunderbird Resort Poro Points Mediterranean-inspired wonder is as captivating as the magnificent milieu of San Fernando City in La Union, Philippines. In this stunning locale, one step inside the confines of our 5-star hotel instantly transports you into a setting influenced by Sant orini, Greeces dazzling resort-town. At Thunderbird Resort, each elegantly furnished living space swathes you in snug and serene comfort. Plus, our world-class services and superior amenities are among the many reasons why we are a favored destination for any endeavor. Indeed, here, you are offered the chance to dream, play, and live however way you want.

After Baguio's Panagbenga, it's Session Road in Bloom

One of the colorful floats in the annual flower festival parade on the last weekend of February. Photo by SHERWIN BALLESTEROS The famous empanada of Ilocos side by side with the batchoy of Iloilo, woven bags and wooden carvings from Palawan and the Cordilleraseven if you're from Baguio City, Session Road in Bloom's offerings will make you feel just like any other tourist.

For one whole week every year, Baguio's best-known thoroughfare is transformed into a sloping fair ground with close to a hundred stalls snaking down the 450-meter two-way road in the summer capital's central business district. Aptly called Session Road in Bloom, it caps the festivities of Baguio's annual Flower Festival or Panagbenga, a celebration of abundant harvest in the country's biggest producer of cut flowers. This year, the festival was held from Feb. 26 to March 4 The culinary and colorful delights in Session in Bloomas most locals choose to call itare as diverse as the citys current cultural mix, as strange and novel to a resident as the chilly air of Baguio is to anyone who lives in the lowlands. It is, in recent years, also been as much about the food as it is about anything elsea welcome respite from all the walking that tourists usually have to endure in this hilly city to see its sights. The scent of fried longganisa from Baguio or Vigan lingers in the still-chilly March air, mingling with the sweet aroma of freshly steamed yellow corn on the cob and the smoky smell of beef forshawarma. At times, the scent of rainwater trickling down the gravel road punctuates the afternoon air, as drizzles have become regular this time of the year. Aside from the predictable street fare of foot-long sausages and burgerswhich have been the staple alongside shawarmaan assortment of provincial delicacies has sprouted in the stalls. This is a welcome treat for after-office revelers, students, and tourists on extended vacations to longer journeys by foot in the city of pedestrians.

Gold-painted metal done in intricate patterns are made into mirror frames and lamps, among others.Photo by NIKKA CORSINO As much a treat for the palate as it is for the eyes is the famed Ilocos empanada, prepared and deep-fried for everyone to see with its fire-orange wrap, egg, and Vigan longganisa. Perhaps the best companion for the empanada is the sinanglao, a stew made of pork intestines usually served in any of the Ilocos strip's well-known food destinations, including the Dap-ayan in Laoag, Ilocos Norte and Vigan in Ilocos Sur. Ilonggo fare also came in the form of batchoy, beef or pork stock with intestines, chicharon, and pancit miki or bihon, as well as the Visayan chicken inasal.

Balut from Pateros and native cakes from Cainta are also available, as are puto bumbong and chocolate bars with pili nuts and laing all the way from Bicol.

Wooden and bamboo lamps with marble accents create colorful illusions and patterns. Photo byNIKKA CORSINO Stalls selling handicrafts also dotted the fair: woven bags and wooden carvings from Asin town in Benguet province; frames, intricate bowls, lamps, and vases made from metal and wood; mother of pearl jewelry and carved wooden masks from Palawan. Artist Derek Pelenia from Palawan showed us several of his artworks for sale - elaborate illustrations of Tagbanua rituals that look like etched artwork but are actually carved out of black marine plywood and colored to finish.

Session in Bloomusually held during the first week of Marchfollows Panagbenga's two highlightsthe consecutive weekend parades that never fail to attract tourists by the millions.

Artist Derek Pelenia of Palawan prefers marine plywood as the base for his elaborate carvings for its versatility and durability. His works sell for about P2,000 to P5,000. Photo by NIKKA CORSINO Designed for only 25,000 residents, however, Baguio City gets full to bursting on the last weekend of February with about a million spectators lining the city streets to see the parade of dancers and 20 or so gigantic floats made of flowers. Since 2010 had been an election year, with countless candidates using the festival for their political campaigns, this year's parades were decidedly less cluttered, more colorful, and more focused.

The Street Dancing Parade, held on a Saturday morning as always, featured what appeared to me as the most colorful set of costumes and props so far. I had spotted headdresses seemingly influenced by the Masskara Festival, and male and female street dancers alike donning tattoos typical of Cordillera tribes.

This year's dancers had a touch of the Ati-Atihan of Visayas. Photo by SHERWIN BALLESTEROS This year also had more upbeat routines, courtesy of a remixed version of the Panagbenga hymn; intriguingly, the new tune drew flak because the song's original composer, who had allowed the remix, reportedly disliked the outcome. Despite the controversy, this year's parades were generally better than last year's ill-disguised

election sorties. The floats22 of themranged from a gigantic bunny to a pair of giant strawberries to a reptile-like bird with flapping wings, with the occasional celebrity driving the crowd to a frenzy just like in recent years. Although a better crowd control policy is yet to be implemented so everyone can witness the parades as well as anybody can, Baguio City's Panagbenga will always be worth a visit. The city becomes livelier than it is the whole year, and everyone seems to be in a cheery mode, never mind if you get calloused feet along the way. The strawberry-flavored taho, after all, is found nowhere else. - YA, GMA News

Panagbenga Festival
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The flowers of Baguio is one of the reasons for the Panagbenga festival.

Panagbenga Festival (English: Flower Festival) is a month-long annual flower festival occurring [1] in Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines. The term is ofMalayo-Polynesian origin, meaning [1] "season of blooming". The festival, held during the month of February, was created as a tribute to the [2] city's flowers and as a way to rise up from the devastation of the 1990 Luzon earthquake. The festival includes floats that are decorated with flowers not unlike those used in Pasadena'sRose Parade. The festival also includes street dancing, presented by dancers clad in flower-inspired costumes, that is [3] inspired by the Bendian, an Ibaloi dance of celebration that came from the Cordillera region. Aside from economic boosts from tourism, the festival also helped the younger generation of indigenous people to rediscover their culture's old traditions. The indigenous people was first wary with government[4] led tourism because of the threat that they will interfere or change their communities' rituals.
Contents
[hide]

1 History 2 Schedule of events 3 References 4 External links

History[edit]

The A. Lim of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA). Entries from the annual Camp John Nichol Sibug art contest gave its official logo: a spray of sunflowers. The festival was set in February to boost tourism as it was considered as a month of inactivity between the busy days of Christmas [6] season and the Holy Week and the summer season. In 1996, archivist and curator Ike Picpican suggested that the festival be renamed as Panagbenga, [2] a Kankanaey term that means "a season of blossoming, a time for flowering".

[5]

Schedule of events[edit]
Opening parade Date: February 1 Venue: Session Road and Melvin Jones Grounds. The parade signals the start of the Panagbenga. This will be participated by a representative contingent of volunteers. The parade will be followed by a short opening program, together with competitions between drum and lyre including street dancing contingent among elementary students. Trade Fair and Bazaar

Date: First Saturday of February until First Sunday of March Venue: Burnham Park Parade and Street Dancing Competition

Date: Fourth Saturday of February Venue: Session Road up to Melvin Jones Grounds Float and Marching Band Competitions

Date: Fourth Sunday of February Venue: Session Road up to Melvin Jones Grounds The parade opens with a shower of rose petals along Session Road while marching bands played lively tunes that sets the mode for the parade. Colourful costumes and lively dance numbers come next followed by cleverly crafted, vibrant and multicoloured floats made entirely from flowers of every kind. Session Road in Bloom

Date: Fourth Monday of February until First Sunday of March Venue: Session Road

Flower and related stalls together with side walk cafs and food outlets shall be set up along Session Road that will be closed to vehicles during the occasions. Street and musical entertainers shall be performing in selected areas in Session Road. This activity shall be organized and managed by the tourism sector of the city. Date: First Sunday of March Venue: Athletic Bowl Field demonstrations and other exhibitions shall be featured. A fitting and appropriate closing ceremony program will formally end the festival followed by a fireworks display in the evening. Closing ceremonies

References[edit]