The 44 floats that came in small, medium and large sizes, donned with fresh flowers and potted plants, during the Panagbenga Festival parade on Sunday did not just carry personal messages of the participants but also those of unity, cooperation, resilience and the goal to achieve success.

“They have different themes but were all united and one in supporting the event, the set guidelines by the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation (BFFF) and they followed what was required,” Evangeline Payno, chief of staff of organizer BFFF Inc., said.

She said that on top of the guidelines was for floats to be designed using 90 percent fresh flowers and potted plants and in support of the “blossoming” concept of the festival.

“Panagbenga” means “in bloom” in the local dialect.

Payno noted that the number of floats that participated in the grand parade this year is the largest in the 29-year history of the festival.

Among the competing entries was the float of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which took the opportunity to urge Filipinos to cast their votes in the midterm polls on May 12.

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said their participation in the highly attended event is part of the continuing voter’s education.

“Voter’s education to highlight that we, the Comelec, are here to ensure that your votes will be counted and the winners will be proclaimed,” he said in his message.

John Philip Baysac, SM City-Baguio manager, said the mall is celebrating its 21st year and continues to join the float parade as a show of support for the local government’s endeavors and gratitude for the people’s patronage.

SM’s large float did not compete though, having attained hall of fame status.

Baguio City government’s float carried the flags of cities, which it has sisterhood ties with, to symbolize unity and cooperation.

Baguio Country Club fielded two floats, one of which was the so-called super centennial float in celebration of its 120th anniversary. The other float’s various elements were designed to mimic the grade and symmetry of Japanese architecture and its natural beauty.

“The Panagbenga festival has always been an occasion for fostering cultural exchanges and this year’s Baguio Country Club float is a perfect example of that,” the synopsis of the design said.

The Department of Tourism-Cordillera, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, and Philippine Retirement Authority’s floats also carried their office’s mandate of promoting and improving tourism.

Crowd-drawing event

The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) estimated at least 120,000 spectators of the grand float parade, spread from the Upper Session Road to Lake Drive.

Major Marcy Grace Marron, BCPO chief information officer, said the number was estimated based on the 10-persons-per-square-meter formula.

“While the parade was ongoing, the different parks and tourist destinations in Baguio also continued to have visitors, enjoying the places minus the crowd who were mostly at Session Road,” she said.

No untoward incident was recorded during the major events of the Panagbenga. (PNA)