The 27th edition of the Baguio Flower Festival (BFF) or “Panagbenga”2022 will go on sans large crowding events like the much-awaited street dancing and flower float parades.

Crowd-drawing activities which includes the opening parade, street dancing and flower float parade shall be avoided, Mayor Benjamin Magalong announced.

An agreement was done with the private organizer Baguio Flower Festival Foundation which met with the public sector two weeks ago, with Baguio Country Club General manager Anthony de Leon present.

A review shall be done which of the traditional activities go on, with an announcement from the foundation.

The traditional activities are Session road in Bloom, Flower Golf Tee, the Philippine Military Academy homecoming, Let A thousand flowers bloom, Open kite exhibition, Cultural show, grand fireworks, and Pony boys’ day.

The landscaping activities may push through with participants and spectators to comply with minimum public health standards (MPHS); masks on, social distancing and frequent handwashing. There are no elaborations if only fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed in activity areas.

The festival launch and the actual celebrations may be done in February or even in March, Magalong hinted.

“Panagbenga” (A Time to Bloom) festivities are usually launched two months before the annual February fest, renowed as perhaps the country’s much-awaited flower festival.

The past two years had low-key celebratory activities, though still marked as the 25th and 26th Panagbenga edition.

Other festivals such as Iloilo’s Dinagyang is coming up with a virtual edition for one of their activities, to avoid crowding.

Panagbenga started in 1995 as a tribute to the city’s flowers and fill in tourism-lean months. It went on for 24 years, offering innovative, indigenous and creative flower-inspired activities to local and foreign tourists through cultural, sports, exhibitions and other activities.