BAGUIO CITY – Local and foreign tourists will start flocking to this mountain resort city to witness the colorful activities of the 15th Panagbenga, the famous Baguio flower festival which fires off on Monday with the elimination round of the street dancing competition.

Aside from the street dancing elimination, organizers will also unveil Monday for public viewing the Market Encounter at Burnham Park which features world-class floral arrangers displaying their respective flower-based products and other landscaping techniques at the park.

At least 50 elementary and secondary schools in the city will compete in the whole day affair to determine the finalists to the street dancing competition. Other street dancers from different parts of Luzon will also join the contest during the finals.

Other highlights of the annual Panagbenga include the fluvial parade at the Burnham Park lake on February 14, Valentines Day; the street dancing parade on February 27; the float and marching bands competition on February 28; and the Session Road in Bloom.

The Session Road in Bloom from March 1 to 7 will see the city’s main road closed to vehicular traffic for the benefit of promenaders, with matching sidewalk cafes and display of flower-based products.

Panagbenga is a Kankanaey term for the blossoming of flowers. It was adapted by Rep. Mauricio G. Domogan when he was still the city’s local chief executive to name the festival since the months of February and March are the times of year when flowers in Baguio and Benguet are in full bloom.

Local hotel owners in Baguio and Benguet said their establishments are close to being fully booked towards the middle of the month due to the increasing reservations from tourists who want to witness the city’s premier crowd drawing event.

While reminding prospective visitors to book early for their accommodations, organizers also reminded national political candidates to adhere to the stringent rules and regulations to ensure the orderly conduct of the annual flower parade.

Politicians and their supporters will be allowed to have entries in the float parade but they will not be allowed to break the parade line to distribute campaign paraphernalia. Otherwise, they will be asked to leave the parade which starts from the top of Session Road to the Baguio Athletic Bowl.

Participants to the float parade need to spend at least P400,000 each in order to come out with a competitive float which is expected to contribute to the uplift of the local flower industry that was heavily devastated by the onslaught of Typhoon Pepeng late last year.

The annual Panagbenga is spearheaded by the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc., a private organization established to cater to the organization and implementation of the activities for the event.