BAGUIO CITY — The 29th edition of the Baguio Flower Festival, famously known as "Panagbenga," officially kicked off with thousands of elementary and high school students participating in the opening parade, showcasing colorful performances of festival and cultural dances.
Before the parade, officials of the Baguio City Government, led by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, and officers of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI), headed by its chairman emeritus and former Baguio City Mayor and Congressman Mauricio Domogan, along with other dignitaries and guests, staged the opening ritual at the Panagbenga Park atop Session Road. Domogan performed the traditional "Uggayam" (a Cordillera chant) asking the Creator to bless the month-long festivities in the city.
The opening prayer rite was attended by representatives of various religious groups and affiliations in the city.
This year’s Panagbenga theme is "Blossoms Beyond Boundaries." The festival was first celebrated in February 1996, a year after Dr. Damaso Bangaoet proposed a festival to celebrate the city's recovery from the devastation caused by the killer earthquake of 16 July 1990, and to honor the culture of resilience of the Cordillera people. It was named the Baguio Flower Festival and later called "Panagbenga," an adaptation of the Kankanaey term for the season of bloom.
Every year, the city government allocates funds for the festivities. Currently, the festival is solely funded privately by the BFFFI, with P16 million allocated for this year. The main crowd-drawing events of Panagbenga are the Grand Street Dancing Parade on 22 February and the Grand Float Parade on 23 February.
After these two major attractions, Session Road will be closed for the "Panagbenga Session Road in Bloom" from 24 February to 2 March 2025. Starting in February, traditional crafts, souvenirs, and goods will be available at the Panagbenga Market Encounter on Juan Luna Drive beside Burnham Lake.