February means a lot of things for many people: Valentine’s Day. Valentine dates. The Panagbenga 2014, or Baguio City’s annual flower festival. Closing of books of accounts for 2013. The last one’s just for me (and countless others who happen to be in the bean-counting profession).
I know of more than a couple of friends who take this same time to get away from the city on a road trip of their own, especially on the two “highlight” days of the month-long festival: the Grand Street Dancing Parade (Saturday) and the Float Parade (Sunday). I, too, admit to doing the same on two straight years, both times because Super Junior was in Manila for their Super Show concerts. Unfortunately, this year, I had no excuse to get away.
Don’t get me wrong. I love this festival. It’s colorful, it makes me proud, it’s just that… it gets way too crowded up here in the City. Traffic coding scheme’s suspended, you see tourists everywhere you look. I guess I’m a “small doses” kind of person.
So, during the Grand Street Dancing Parade, I went for my usual early Saturday morning workout, steered clear of the main thoroughfares and stuck to the back streets, went home, and slept. Did my usual Sunday morning routine, then met up with my friend Lorie at the Athletic Bowl, where the floats were parked for public viewing. Still, it was crowded, but in more acceptable doses. Here are a few photos I managed to take. (See more photos here and here.)
The two photos above are of the float of Le Monet Hotel and Restaurant, which is now a Hall of Famer, after having won the best float prize consecutively for several years.
The two photos above is by Cebu-based International Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Are you up for some Plants vs. Zombies… made out of flowers?
SM Baguio gives wings to the horse. (I refuse to call it Pegasus, as others do, because from what I can recall, Pegasus is supposed to be a winged unicorn.)
This was quite a favorite.
And SURPRISE! It’s by the City Government!! *ish proud*
Here’s a bit of trivia. Everlasting, which is used for the G-string and headwear of this minion, is the provincial flower of Benguet.
Everlasting is also used for this Buddha figure.
Happy Panagbenga 2014!
This was taken the next day, Monday, when the City’s float was taken to the City Hall, where it stayed before it was dismantled Friday morning. Yes, I only had to look out the window while working, to see these flowery minions. 🙂
I wonder what next year’s float will be. Flappy…. flowers?
Jeffer. Peace. Out.
Leave a Reply