February 1, 2017 - March 6, 2017

BAGUIO CITY – Even before Baguio Flower Festival 2016 ended, plans for Panagbenga 2017 are put into place, in coordination with city officials; with suggestions from visitors and local citizens. According to Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) officer Anthony de Leon and Chief of Staff Evangeline Payno, the secretariat accepts all feedback for improvements in future flower festival celebrations. De Leon added the festival is a continuous work in progress, thus suggestions for a longer parade route, and more landscapes at the Botanical garden and Bayan Park, Aurora Hill are looked into. Miracle gardens are planned with a tripartite body; the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI), DOT and the local government of Baguio. Trainings for cultural dancers and landscapers have been done, de Leon said, with a training for float makers and musicians on the planning board. A Baguio Chamber of Music is envisioned, he added. A collaborative effort for neighboring municipalities' festivals is growing, with La Union and La Trinidad festival events done close to Panagbenga. A bigger budget for drum and lyre competition is also seen, with more invited groups from other places, for "cultural variety." Domogan envisions a more improved Melvin Jones and Athletic Bowl, both at Burnham Park for the next festival season, fenced-in additional seats for spectators, substantial renovation and matured grass within the running oval. A thorough evaluation however is needed before the improvements are done, he said. The all-morning local television coverage for the Panagbenga 2017 street dancing parade shall be worked out, he said. Home-bound spectators would once more witness said event, the mayor added. Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Venus Tan, during the Panagbenga Kapihan at Session road, said the all-year round blooming and regreening project goes on. This is supposed to start along Central Business District's building facades, in support of Panagbenga 2017. De Leon added that taxes, at least P2.6M were paid to the city coffers and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), from the Session road in Bloom and Baguio Blooms. All documents including the audited report is submitted to the BIR and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) within August this year, de Leon said. Mayor Mauricio Domogan, said that all participants, volunteers, supporters including the Baguio City Police Office personnel and other assigned personnel made Panagbenga a "resounding success." Having a festival of this magnitude is not possible without them, he added. Philippine Information Agency (PIA-CAR) Regional Director Helen Tibaldo said Panagbenga 2016 is a "community pride," where parochial interests were set aside. The Baguio Flower Festival's accreditation with the International Festival and Events Association (IFEA) was also delved into. A subsidy, promotions abroad, trainings with scholarship, and nominations for the outstanding communication sector, participant and volunteer may be forwarded to IFEA, it was known. If the streak goes on, Panagbenga lives up to its name of being the "trailblazer" and "benchmark" festival, as earlier mentioned by the DOT. DOT RD Tan said she is pleased with Panagbenga 2016's success. -juliegfianza