Panagbenga

February || Baguio

Panagbenga also known as the Baguio Flower Festival, is an annual month long festival held in Baguio,the summer capital of the Philippines.

It started in 1995 as the brainchild of Attorney Damaso Bangaoet Jr. of the John Hay Poro Point Development Corporation (JPDC) and Victor A. Lim of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA).Entries from the annual Camp John Hay art contest gave its official logo: a spray of sunflowers. The festival was set to February to boost tourism.

During this flower season at the City of Pines, the Baguio folks take a break to revel in the cool climate and the unique culture of their city. Multi-hued costumes are worn, mimicking the various blooms of the highland region or any of its 11 ethnic tribes. There's also the flower beds disguised as the Panagbenga parade floats. The festivities include a parade, street dancing, marching bands as well as trade fair and bazaar.