¢ Photos: Kassy Yanna Pasiwen
This year’s edition of the fluvial parade made the Panagbenga Festival more meaningful as the flower-bedecked floats showcased the rich culture and tradition of the proud people in this highland region.
Throngs of Baguio residents and tourists alike flocked to Burnham Park Lake, as eight fluvial floats joined the competition while another four non-competing floats added to the attraction.
Presented by the Department of Tourism-Cordillera in partnership with the city government, Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc., and Baguio Tourism Council, the event added more meaning to this year’s festival theme “Celebrating Traditions, Embracing Innovation.”
Float 8 or the pontoon boat which featured cañao as thanksgiving won as champion with a cash prize of P20,000 followed by float 4, or the yellow boat that featured the Banaue Rice Terraces with a cash prize of P15,000.
On third place was float 7, or blue boat titled “Welcome to Baguio” with a cash prize of P10,000.
On fourth place was float 8, or the dolphin’s cove that featured flower of life followed by float 1 themed celebrating tradition and culture; float 5 themed rice planting; float 6 themed Igorot weaving and float 2 themed Arangkada Cordillera.
