The City government of Baguio led by Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Congressman Mark Go and the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI) the BFFI officials led by Executive Chairman Anthony De Leon formally launched the Baguio Flower Festival 2017 during the flag raising ceremony at the Baguio City Hall on Monday (Nov. 14).

The 22nd edition of the Baguio Flower Festival or Panagbenga has for its theme, "Inspired by beauty, nurtured by nature."

De Leon said that the theme focuses on the beauty of the festival and the environment which inspires the city. This also encourages the people in the community to continuously protect and preserve the environment.

Domogan encouraged the participation of the community in making the Panagbenga festivities successful and a memorable one. He also encouraged the nearby towns of the BLISTT or the La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay to conduct activities in February for tourists to visit their towns during the month- long Panagbenga celebration.

Domogan said the proposal for the BLISTT areas to schedule their major events in the days where there are no Panagbenga activities had been proposed to officials several years ago but there had not been a concerted response by concerned local governments.

"Delegations from the neighboring towns of Benguet and other parts of the Cordillera are welcome to actively participate in the events of the Panagbenga to sustain our efforts to increase the participation of the public to the major events of our Flower Festival. We want more participation from the public and private sectors to continue to draw the interest of local residents and visitors," Domogan said.

De Leon added that the municipalities surrounding the city are very much welcome to organize their own events to be included in the schedule of the Panagbenga. He said the events of other municipalities will be part of the Panagbenga schedule as long as it will not conflict with the major activities in the City.

For the Panagbenga 2017, the Grand Street Dancing Parade and Grand Float Parade are set on February 25 and 26, respectively, followed by the Session Road in Bloom on February 27 to March 5.

Among the activities lined up include opening Day on February 1, the Baguio Blooms Exposition at the Lake Drive from February 1 to March 5, the Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio at the Melvin Jones Football grounds on February 12, the citywide School-based competitions on February 15, the Flower Tee Open Golf Tournament at the Baguio Country Club on February 25 and 26, the Pony Boys Day on March 4 and the Closing ceremonies and grand Fireworks Display on March 5.

The annual event is a now a member of the International Festival and Events Association (IFEA), the premiere association supporting and enabling festival and event professionals worldwide.

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via JDP/RMC- PIA CAR