Panagbenga preparations: Baguio residents show their ingeniousness through their artistic floats

Since the festival started in 1995, boat concessionaires at Burnham Park have participated in the fluvial parade each year. But for Panagbenga 2023, it had been special since the city made the merrymaking in full swing after the pandemic.

A month before the event, the concept, design, and sources for supplies to be used were already prepared by the participants.

One of the few challenges they encountered was the prices of flowers. Though they were from flower farms all over Benguet, the prices are still quite high because of the demand for Valentine’s Day. The floats were done overnight, in the evening before the parade, to keep the flowers as fresh as they are for aesthetic purposes.

Manang Jermaine Timango, one of the boat concessionaires, says that despite the steep prices, they made sure to join this special event.

"Ang mahal ng mga bulaklak kasi nataon pa na Valentines month ngayong February. Naka-order na kami noon pang isang buwan kaya ang taas ng presyo. Pero sinigurado talaga namin ng mga kasama ko na kakaiba naman this year ang entry namin para mas kahanga-hanga. Pinaghirapan namin ito para makatulong sa turismo ng Baguio," Timango said.

Timango added that makes sure they have a distinctive entry each year. She and her team really poured out their brilliant ideas to help promote the city’s tourism efforts.

"Sana lang mapagkasya namin ang budget galing sa DOT. Kasi magdagdag din ako ng perang pambili ng materyales para manalo," she shared.

Baguio people are the very resourceful and ingenious. Creating these floats for a competition brought out what we are famous for and what tourists come here for all year round. 

The cost for each float is around P20,000, but can go higher depending on the design. Some floats cost more than the allocated budget provided by the DOT in Cordillera, and it was an out-of-pocket expense by the contestants. 

Manong Danny Carpiso, one of the boat ride vendors since the early 1990s, says he doesn’t really mind the additional cost as long as they capture the concept they had in mind and present a very beautiful entry.

"Sobra sa allocated budget ng DOT itong expenses ng float namin pero okay lang kahit magdagdag ako ng sarili kong pera. Basta masunod talaga yung gusto naming design at ma-impress ang lahat. Kaya sa simula pa lang ng Panagbenga sumasali na kami ng pamilya ko," Carpiso said.

The parade contenders spent one sleepless night setting up their float entries but their enthusiasm was never dampened. This event is so special to them since this helped them a lot from bouncing back from a time during the pandemic when no tourists visited the city so they had to ask the locals to come and have a group ride for only P50, with unlimited time just so they can provide food for their families; and the locals supported them during that time.

Looking back at the early months of the pandemic, where tourists were scarce, Carpiso shared that he was humbled by those who helped him earn a living.

"Hindi namin makakalimutan yung panahon ng pandemic na wala kahit isang turista dito sa Burnham. Nag-alok kami sa mga taga-Baguio na sumakay maski 50 pesos lang nang wala time limit para may pambili kami ng pagkain. Madami tumulong noon. Nakakatuwa," he said.

The Bayanihan spirit is so alive in this city so blessed with an abundance of natural resources and the kindest of communities.