This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 50, January 29-February 4, 2006
Two Flower Fests in
Baguio Gear for Showdown What
is supposed to be a traditional celebration has become an occasion for political
turfing. For the first time since it started in 1995, residents and visitors in
Baguio City will witness two flower festivals due to failure of warring
organizers to unite. BY
ACE ALEGRE BAGUIO CITY―For the first
time since it started in 1995, residents and visitors here (246 kms. from
Manila) will be witness to two flower festivals due to failure of warring
organizers to unite. Leaders and supporters of
the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI) announced last January 27
that they are holding their own version of the “Panagbenga” (blooming of plants
and flowers). Even as most of their
revelries will be at the private Camp John Hay, their float parade and street
dancing will be at Session Road on Feb. 25 and 26, respectively. The other group, Baguio
Panagbenga Flower Festival Association (BPFFA) led by Catholic Bishop Carlito
Cenzon and businesswoman Nelia Cid, practically appropriated all public places
for its use upon the directive of Baguio City Mayor Braulio Yaranon. However, lawyer Damaso
Bangaoet who is credited for the Panagbenga festival which started in 1995,
said, “The two Panagbengas are complimentary and is an opportunity rather than a
problem.” Bangaoet said that he sees
the beauty of two festivals because people joining the revelries from February
until March will have more to expect. He added that if there would be any
competition, it would be a friendly one. According to him, the situation that
seemed hopeless to unite the two groups with only a few days left “brings out
our ability to organize things better.” He said that BFFFI made it
a point that their schedules will not conflict with that of the BPFFA-led
activities, citing that the BFFFI street dancing parade is on the afternoon of
Feb. 26 while the BPFFA’s is on the morning of Feb. 25. Bangaoet promised to join
the opening ceremonies of the BPFFA-led rites on January 30 at the Rose Garden
here. He said that BFFFI will open its own celebrations at SM-Baguio on Feb. 1. More to see This time, BFFFI organizers
said that they have convinced Camp John Hay again to participate after it
shunned the limelight three years ago when it turned over the festival to the
city. “New features, additions and activities await the revelers at Camp John
Hay,” said Bangaoet. He claimed that they have
also enjoined SM-Baguio to come out with its own participation in the Panagbenga
to add more zest to the overall celebrations. The Baguio-Benguet Flower
Growers Association was saddened by the failure of the BFFFI and BPFFA to unite.
According to one of the members, the association’s president is joining the
BPFFA while more than 20 of them want to join the BFFFI-organized activities.
Bangaoet said a
telecommunications company and other firms are supporting them and these are
also supporting the BPFFA-led rites. He added that two big brass bands from
outside the Cordillera region and bands from Cavite and other provinces are
joining the street dancing and float parades. Officials from Camarines Sur,
Malolos, Bulacan and nearby towns in Region I and II are also expected to come.
Saint Louis University,
University of Baguio and University of the Cordilleras here said that they would
not join in any of the two rites due to the failure of the two groups to unite,
Bangaoet said. Baguio Rep. Mauricio
Domogan, a leading official in the BFFFI, claimed the participation of Manny
Pacquiao who is expected to join the parade. A garden at the planned Panagbenga
Park at Loakan Road will be named after Pacquiao and his family. Yaranon also claimed that
the BPFFA has invited Pacquiao to grace any of its activities. BPFFA-led
activities will open its rites on Jan. 30. World-class wushu athletes from the
Cordillera who won during the recent Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will attend.
Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
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Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat