At least two participants from outside the Cordillera region have confirmed their participation to this city’s 29th Panagbenga Flower Festival opening on Feb. 1.

Contingents from the municipalities of Rosario and Pugo in La Union province have confirmed participation to the drum and lyre and street dance competitions during the opening parade, according to Evangeline Payno, chief of staff of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation’s Executive Committee.

The festival, based on Kankanaey word for “blooming” or “blossoming”, has been identified as among the biggest crowd-drawing and popular tourism events in the country.

The official street dance and drum and lyre participating groups, including those representing elementary to college level contingents, are given PHP100,000 subsidy, while cash prize for the first to third placers are PHP150,000, PHP100,000 and PHP70,000, respectively.

Payno said they resumed this year the inclusion of college students in the drum and lyre and street dancing competitions.

“Blossoms beyond boundaries (is the theme for this year’s event). It is difficult to form contingents,” Payno said, explaining the reason for the subsidy.

Payno also said at least 13 cultural dance groups will also join the opening parade, with prices set at PHP50,000, PHP70,000, and PHP100,000 for the top three winners.

The first to third placers for the high school and college festival dance category, meanwhile, will receive PHP200,000; PHP100,000; PHP70,000, respectively, while the rest will be given PHP50,000 consolation prize.

“This was already announced in the 2024 festival to allow the universities and colleges to prepare. We hope to get more participation, especially the schools here in Baguio and the provinces in the Cordillera,” Payno said.

Payno said they are expecting more out-of-town performers for the grand street dancing parade on Feb. 22.

Another innovation for this year is the increase in the prizes for the flower float winners.

The first place for the large float category gets PHP600,000 while the second and third placers will be given PHP400,000 and PHP300,000, respectively.

For the medium-size floats, the top three winners will get PHP350,000, PHP250,000 and PHP150,000, respectively.

Small float category winners will receive PHP100,000; PHP50,000 and PHP30,000 for the first, second, and third placers.

A subsidy is also provided for the float participants to ensure quality participation. They need to follow the rule that 90 percent of the decoration should use fresh flowers and potted plants while allowing 10 percent for other materials.

“We are after quality. We want a good show that is why the foundation is helping those who participate in the festival,” Payno added.

The festival will end on the first Sunday of March, with different activities set for the duration to allow tourists an opportunity to see, participate and join the festivities not just during the grand parades.

The annual fluvial parade of the Department of Tourism (DOT), wherein boats at the Burnham lake are also decorated with flowers, is set on Feb. 27. (PNA)