Surviving Session Road in Bloom

This year marks the 18th Panagbenga Festival, a month-long celebration in Baguio City that peaks near the end of the month with parades and parties galore. The city's main thoroughfare shuts down and stalls selling everything from flowers to falafel pop up. The popular festival draws in thousands of tourists every year.

The crush of the crowd may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're planning to head up to the mountains to see the sights, here are a few things to keep in mind.

 

Know where to go
 

The official website gives you the schedule at a glance, allowing you to plan for headline events like the Grand Street Dancing Parade (Feb 22) or the Grand Float Parade (Feb 23). The website also showcases the best routes to take around the city and can help you make the most of your time. 

 

Early birds get the best seats
 

Planting yourself along the parade route early gets you the best view and the best photos. Playing the waiting game can be arduous for the unprepared. Bring along essentials like bottled water, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Kristine Addatu, Executive Assistant for the Panagbenga Secretariat Committee, reminds spectators to dress for the weather during the festival.

"Sunod-sunod na ang events and summer na dito sa Baguio. Kahit mainit pag hapon, it's still cold in the morning, so bring a thick jacket." 

 

Ditch the plastic
 

Addatu asks tourists to bring eco-bags to lessen plastic use during the festival to help celebrate the year's "Inspiring the Community for a Greener Tomorrow" theme. Eco-bags will come in handy when you cruise the merchandise and food stalls in Session Road.

Opt for reusable water bottles to help save you a few pesos. Reusable containers also keep trash to a minimum.

"Every year, when we clean up Session Road after Panagbenga ends, parang baha ng basura," an off-duty cop discloses. 

 

Map it out

Addatu also advises that tourists bring their own maps to help them navigate the sometimes tricky back alleys and side streets of Baguio City.

Screenshots and physical printouts will also help you navigate when your Wi-Fi or 3G conks out. 

 

Make reservations

Want to eat without waiting in line? Make reservations when you can!

A Baguio-based restaurateur wryly notes: "I'd love to accommodate your party of twenty, but we sometimes don't have the space. Big groups should always try to call ahead to avoid waiting in line."

You can also try heading in before the lunch or dinner rush to secure a table. 

 

Prepare for traffic 

If you hate traffic, leave your car at the hotel, walk or take public transport. Reduce your stress, especially if you don't know how to handle Baguio's notorious inclined roads and have difficulty with "hanging" or bitin.

Take note that Baguio's number coding scheme will be suspended during the following dates only: Feb 13, 14, 20-21 and 24-25. For the week of the festival, number coding remains as is. 

 

Hit the town on a weekday 

The streets of Baguio are packed during the weekends, but during weekends, the lanes are free and clear. Hit the town before the rush and take advantage not only of the cold mountain air, but weekday prices. 

 

Prepare for pickpockets

Festivals like Panagbenga are smorgasbord buffets for thieves. Hang on to your bags and keep an eye on your gadgets and phones. 

 

Learn the routes

Almost all jeepneys stop and start at Public Market or nearby Igorot Park. The notable exceptions include Mines View jeepneys, which stop beside the McDonald's branch in Session Road and jeeps that head on out of town like the Acupan and Asin lines.


But no matter which line you ride, you will end up heading back to common town areas like Session Road or the public market. 

 

Watch where you light up

Session Road and public areas in Baguio are designated no-smoking zones. Ask before you light up, as the hefty fine might ruin your vacation. 

 

Dress for cold weather

During the months of February and March, Baguio slowly shakes off the cold temperatures that characterize the holiday season.

Trek up and down Baguio's hills in comfortable shoes and clothes. Don't forget to bring a small umbrella just in case it rains.

Baguio can be very cold for the uninitiated, so if you tend to feel chilly it's best to bring a sweater or windbreaker.  

 

Buy a return ticket as soon as you arrive
 

In the aftermath of the Session Road in Bloom, locals often see throngs of tourists waiting for hours at the Old Terminal located at the top of Session Road or in Victory Liner over at Engineer's Hill.

Avoid the hassle by buying tickets in advance. This way, you can spend the rest of the day or weekend taking in the festival, and not worrying about when you can catch the next bus home. — JDS, GMA News