BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The annual parade of floats did not disappoint the thousands of spectators who gathered over the weekend.
Bedecked with fresh blooms, 34 floats charmed the crowd during the 30th staging of the annual Baguio Flower Festival on Sunday, March 1. The Grand Floral Float Parade served as the centerpiece of Panagbenga’s 30th anniversary, marking three decades of the festival’s role in Baguio’s economic and cultural recovery.
Themed “Panagbenga 2026: Blooming Without End,” the parade showcased a lineup featuring floral floats, marching bands, cultural performers, advocates, local and national officials, and various personalities rode atop the flower-inspired floats traversing the traditional route from Panagbenga Park to the iconic Session Road, and down to the Melvin Jones Grandstand.
The idyllic Panagbenga hymn, composed by the late Saint Louis University bandmaster Macario Fronda, reverberated throughout the morning, inviting a nostalgic look back at the BFF’s small community beginning as a gathering of a community picking up the pieces after the devastation of the 1990 earthquake.
The parade opened with the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) band and its “long gray line” of cadets, followed by the City Government of Baguio float, which was adorned in thousands of white and maroon chrysanthemums which featured horse figures representing both the 2026 Lunar Year of the Horse and the city’s colonial history of horse-drawn transportation.
The Hall of Fame category featured elaborate entries, including SM Prime Holdings Inc., which presented a narrative of rebirth. Its design featured a rear section depicting the fractured stone structures of the 1990 Luzon Earthquake, transitioning into a lush display of Mother Nature seated upon the Ifugao Rice Terraces. Meanwhile, the Baguio Country Club display played on pop culture with its “Huntrix” theme—a K-pop-inspired concept that utilized music and hospitality as a metaphor for the “battle against ordinary experiences.”
Non-competing floats were led by the Department of Tourism (DOT) – CAR, which drumbeated the “Love the Philippines” campaign. Their entry served as a tribute to the Cordillera’s “Blooming Without End” spirit, blending natural beauty with cultural heritage through a cascading garden of endemic flowers set against stylized mountain peaks.
BingoPlus of AB Leisure Exponent Inc. also joined the non-competing lineup, displaying a “treasure hunt adventure” that focused on festive entertainment with “BingBing” characters blending into the floral elements.
The Medium Float Category featured a display from Wright Park Hotel, showcasing metal sculptures by Baguio artist Bumbo Villanueva. Mang Inasal, in collaboration with the DOT, featured the “Love the Flavors” campaign with a floral replica of the iconic Lion’s Head.
In the Large Float Category, global brands showcased Cordilleran craftsmanship. McDonald’s (Golden Arches) created “A Harvest of Golden Moments,” featuring a floral Big Mac and a Fries carton overflowing with yellow petals. This was followed by Jollibee Foods Corporation, which integrated a miniature version of the Igorot Stone Kingdom and a rotating Mines View Observation Deck into its design.
GMA Network featured Sunsilk, with cascading floral “waves” in pink and peach designed to mimic flowing hair, symbolizing continuous growth. Chooks-to-Go made its festival debut with “Chooksie,” a mascot seated on a hot air balloon location pin.
For the Small Float Category, local landscapers and garden centers dominated. Jam AE Enterprise Corp. highlighted sustainability, with 80% of its materials—including honey bee and sunflower motifs—sourced from local Benguet growers. Zaparita’s Garden entered three separate categories, featuring peacocks, swans, and mythical figures like Pegasus to represent freedom and connection.
The parade concluded with a “tail” unit led by the Victory Liner Bus and the General Services Office team, who ensured the immediate cleanup of the parade route.
The weekend spectacle of talent and color began with Saturday’s street dancing competition and drum and lyre tilts, featuring 14 competing groups in the elementary and high school categories. The event also featured a presentation on the historical timeline of the festival, known as Panagbenga (a Kankanaey term for “a season of blooming”). The presentation was directed by Rebecca Nulud with music composed by Normita Rio-Pablico, featuring the Saint Louis University Glee Club. Maria Elena Catajan