The SM City Baguio float in last year’s Panagbenga Festival designed with fresh flowers.

It will be a time of blooms, pageantry, and great entertainment as SM City Baguio joins in the celebration of the Panagbenga Festival this February.

Panagbenga, the month-long festival held in the summer capital of the Philippines was created as a tribute to the city’s flowers and as a way to rise up from the devastation of the 1990 Luzon earthquake. It first began in 1995 with floats decorated with flowers, and street dancing by dancers dressed in flower-inspired costumes inspired by the Bendian, an Ibaloi dance of celebration.

Aside from the economic boosts from tourism, the festival also helped the younger generation of indigenous people rediscover their culture’s old traditions.

Joey Ayala, chairman of the National Committee for Music of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts will direct Ani ng Sining, a musical performance on Friday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. at the Event Center.

Mallgoers will get a glimpse of the prettiest and most adorable princesses in the Panagbenga Princess pageant on Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. at the Event Center.

The Kapamilya Karavan will make a stop on Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. at The Drive with a variety show of ABS-CBN’s top artists and performers. On the following day, Kapuso artists from GMA Network’s top-rating shows will visit the mall to greet their fans on Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. also at The Drive.

While all this is going on, shopping will bloom in the Panagbenga Specials from Feb. 26-28, where one can look forward to great finds, selections, and bargains.

It’s non-stop party fun from March 1-7 at The Drive where themed parties will highlight the music and fashion of decades past. It’s a Flower Power Party on March 1 featuring music from the late ’60s and ’70s; while the ’70s Disco Hustle Night on March 2 is a great time for dancing. There’s more fun ahead in the Fantabulous ’80s Night on March 3, the Techno ’90s Night on March 4, and Out and Proud on March 5 which will feature The REtroSPECT Band. There will be a Stiletto Ladies Night Out on March 6 and the Doo Wop Elvis Party on March 7, which will feature the best bands in Baguio City. All night parties start at 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Drive.

Capping the festivities is a Grand Fireworks Display for the Panagbenga Closing Celebrations on March 7 at 7 p.m.