Baguio blooms, Cordillera culture in full splendor at Panagbenga festival

The entire length of Baguio’s famous Session Road teemed with people Saturday morning. Crowds gathered to witness the Grand Street Parade, a highlight of the city’s Panagbenga Festival.   The street parade began at 8 a.m., but locals and foreigners began lining Session Road as early as 6 a.m. to get a good view of the colorful procession.   The St. Louis University Marching Band was at the head of the procession, cheered on by their schoolmates in the crowd.   Contingents from various other schools and organizations in the region followed in their wake.   It was a festival of flowers indeed as vibrant-hued blooms, both real and synthetic, adorned the costumes of the paraders. Some wore shirts printed with roses and lilies, while others donned hats covered in yellow crepe flowers, as some carried woven trays overflowing with fresh blossoms.   The unique culture of the Cordillera region was also highlighted in the parade.  

Dancers and musicians braved the cold Northern air and nobly donned traditional Cordillera dress, complete from the feathered headbands down to the bahag (a loincloth, for the men) or tapis (a woven skirt, for the women).   The spectacle certainly attracted a throng of people, but for some, local vendors in particular, it’s the massive crowd itself that is the main attraction.   Taho (soy) vendor Ernie Paras shared that even though he lives in Tarlac, he regularly comes to Baguio during Panagbenga because his taho sells more briskly here.   “Madaming tao talaga, lalo na ‘pag float parade,” he said.   Among the huge crowd was KC Balcita from Sampaloc, Manila, a Panagbenga first-timer, who shared that she came to Baguio not only for the festival, but also for the cool weather.   “[Nagpunta ako] para mag-unwind, ma-experience 'yung coldness, at para saksihan 'yung street-dancing,” she said.   “Definitely babalik ako next year,” she promised.   Unlike KC, Babes Umali had already seen the festival several times but she still decided to come this year, despite the incredible effort of traveling to the North from her home in Fairview, Quezon City.   “Four times na [ako nakapunta dito], kasi naiiba 'yung affair na nangyayari dito. 'Yung nangyayari dito, hindi mo talaga makikita sa Manila. Alam namin 'yung mga bulaklak, dito talaga nanggagaling kalimitan 'di ba? So inaasahan namin na may kakaibang mapapanood kami dito na hindi pa namin nakikita,” she shared.   Umali says the festival never gets old. “Iba-iba siya every year. Masaya talaga.” — ELR, GMA News Disclosure: The author's trip was sponsored by The Manor Hotel at Camp John Hay in Baguio City.