BAGUIO CITY — From top Session Road to Harrison Road, a display of vibrant tapestry of color and rhythm as the Grand Street Dancing Parade of the 30th Baguio Flower Festival, widely known as Panagbenga or season of bloom transformed said areas into a flowing stage.

Thousands of spectators, Baguio residents and most visitors lined the route from Session Road to Harrison Road as early as before the sun rose to witness students from the different schools in the city and also participating dance contingents from different municipalities of Benguet and other provinces of the lowlands showcased their gracefulness accompanied by music ensembles and the Panagbenga hymn. The contingents proceeded to the Melvin Jones Grandstand for the field performances perfected with artistic choreographies.

With all the performances, this part of Panagbenga just like all its other activities proved why the festival remains a premier cultural event in the Philippines, blending floral artistry with the infectious energy of youth performance.

Beyond the elaborate costumes and synchronized movements, this year’s festivities carried a profound historical weight. The choreography presented by various student contingents served as a moving tribute to the city's journey of recovery and rebirth.

It has been over three decades since the devastating 16 July 1990 earthquake left Northern Luzon in ruins, yet the spirit of that era was present in every step. The performances purposefully illustrated how Baguio City rose from the literal rubble of disaster to cultivate a world-class festival that symbolizes hope and perpetual growth. As the parade concluded at the football grounds, the message of resilience remained the focal point of the celebration.

By weaving the story of the 1990 tragedy into the vibrancy of the season of bloom, the participants showcased a community that does not merely move past its history but uses it as the soil for future success.

The 30th celebration of Panagbenga stands as a testament to the fact that even after the harshest winters of adversity, the city’s spirit continues to "bloom without end".