Friendly reminders before your Baguio Panagbenga trip

No doubt, Philippines is very rich in culture and celebrating fiesta in different regions is one evidence how significant this kind of celebration is. Through festivals, people will know the value of diversity and been able to accept all customs and traditions not only domestically but all over the world. One of the best representations of a happy festival in the Philippines is the Panagbenga or Flower festival held annually in the province of Baguio. The Flower Festival adopted the local Kankana-ey name “Panagbenga” which literally means “A season of Blossoming, A Time for Flowering.” It is usually a one month celebration every February with different activities, while grand parade happens every last week of the love month.

We have been to Baguio several times, but we never got a chance to experience their very colorful festival not until this February 2013 that got us the break to witness Panagbenga. Undoubtedly, Baguio’s flower festival is really a wonderful and happy experience especially for first timers. However, having experienced all the thrill and fuss, there are several learning experience and tips I would like to share to future Panagbenga travelers that might help them with their future planning.   

Panagbenga festival event tips

•     Book your Hotel as early as January

Panagbenga is a huge and famous celebration so expect that flock of people will go to Baguio to witness this colorful festival. Make sure that you have an advance reservation to your preferred hotel as most accommodation in Baguio becomes fully – booked as early as January.

•        Pick the hotel near the routes where the parade will pass by

Since we are not that choosy in hotel accommodation, we picked La Brea Inn as our choice of stay for 3 days in Baguio. We chose La Brea Inn since it has a very nice location near several food establishments (Army Navy, Mcdonalds, KFC, Chowking, Jollibee, ChicBoy) in Session road where the grand street parade and fluvial float pass by.  Aside from being so affordable (1700/night/room for 4) they also have balcony window on 4^th and 5^th floor where you can view the parade. La brea inn also offers clean and complete room amenities with free wifi connection and great customer service.  

La Brea Inn contact numbers : 0917-6087800 / 0923-2800395 (It's better to call them for fast response)

•        Book ahead your roundtrip tickets to Baguio

Expect flock of people on bus terminals especially after the festival so to avoid being a chance passenger, make sure you already have your reserved round trip tickets. The most famous bus line to Baguio is the Victory liner that offers you a hassle – free online reservation.  Usually, they accept reservations a month before the Panagbenga festival schedule. You don’t need to go to their terminal just to buy your roundtrip tickets; all you just need is visit their reservation site:  http://www.victoryliner.com/reservations/,your debit card or deposit the payment to Metrobank and they will send your reserved tickets via courier.

•        Travel light

When travelling, it is advisable to travel light so you will end up having lots of space for pasalubong, haha. Kidding aside, it is important when packing your things to have your list on what to bring so you will not forget anything you need. It is also helpful to ask the hotel if they will offer free use of towel and free toiletries to lessen your load.

•      Be an early bird during the parade

Both Panagbenga grand parades start at 8 in the morning and people already reserving good spots as early as 6 in the morning. As I have mentioned, you need to get a hotel with good location where the parade will pass by because it will lessen your time to walk from your preferred hotel to a good spot since all roads are closed during the parade. Since we checked in at La Brea Inn along Session road, it’s very convenient for us to go just downstairs and reserved a good spot in front of the hotel. During the street parade we reserved a sitting area around 6am while during the Grand flower float people were already taking a good spot as early as 5 in the morning.

•        Have your breakfast or bring some snacks

Since it’s a long wait, it is important to have your breakfast first so you have enough energy throughout the parade. Alternatively, you can bring your own snack or baon that you can eat while waiting for the parade. There are also lots of vendors selling street foods everywhere including sack or paper that can be your sit cover on your reserved area. 

•        Jam-packed food establishments

You must expect that after the parade everyone is rooting to have a good lunch at restaurants & fast food chain. As much as possible eat your lunch early or quite late as food stalls in SM Baguio and Session road are all full.  

•        Expect long walks and heavy traffic

Since all roads are closed during and after the parade, be prepared to walk for some kilometers either on going to SM or nearby tourist spots. You must also bring with you some patience as roads are full with vehicles that cause heavy traffic.

•        Don’t stay late at the Mansion and other tourists spots.

If ever having a side trip after the parade, make sure that you won’t stay late because you will have difficulties in getting public transportation as all FX services are full with passengers. Better yet rent the FX for a two-way ride with an additional charges.

Panagbenga festival is one of a kind flower festival you shouldn’t miss. You will be amazed on how locals dedicated themselves in making beautiful costumes and energetic dance moves. Your eyes will feast on different colorful costumes of every participant that’s really worth witnessing. The Grand Floral Parade was really refreshing and colorful. It was well attended, and included dignitaries such as Mayor, foreign delegations from Korea, Canada, Japan and local artists. (Bong Revilla & Indio cast; Robin Padilla & Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw Cast, Daniel Matsunaga, Shamcey Supsup, and Gary Valeciano. It’s really worth seeing festival in Baguio City, so colorful, so enjoyable and so amazing

17th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta : where everything flies

As we all know February is month of love where people become romantic and spend some extra sweet quality time with their special someone or loved ones. Couple, family and friends hunt for some things to do, places to see or events to witness and festivals are some of the ideal hang-out. Some of these festivals include Pamulinawen in Laoag, Suman festival in Baler Aurora, Candle festival in Jaro Ilo-ilo, Panagbenga in Baguio, and a lot more.  But here is an extraordinary outdoor experience that surely you will loved. It is The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta where “Everything flies”. It is an annual tournament of balloonist from various countries and it features aero sport shows, kite flying, games, exhibitions and many more. It’s a four days event happens every February at Clark Field Angeles Pampanga. 

As our group wanted to celebrate Hearts Month, we decided to have a pre-Valentines date witnessing big balloons soar thousands of feet high. We were able to attend the 3^rd day which is Saturday, February 11. My friends decided to stay at our home a night before and without sleep we left Manila 2 in the morning. (Just a tip, if you wanted to have a convenient parking slot near the entrance and good viewing spot you should be at the venue 4 in the morning and also to avoid long lines in entrance and ticketing booths. But for us, we booked our tickets 1 week ahead in SM TicketNet outlets: Mall of Asia, SM Makati, SM Bicutan, SM Southmall, etc. for only 200 + 20 pesos for the handling fee) We arrived at Clark 4 in the morning and the queue to the parking area, as well as the main entrance of the show area was very long but you’ll feel that everyone’s excited for the show. Around 5:30 in the morning remote controlled AeroLED aircrafts started to fly in the sky, a go signal that the show will start in a few minutes. 

remote-controlled AeroLED

When the clock ticked at exactly 6 in the morning, a sky jumper was seen in the sky carrying a Philippine flag while Philippine National Anthem played in the airways. It was an extraordinary feeling of proudness; and yes this is our homeland! 

Moments later participants started to set-up their balloons on the open ground, and we we’re so amazed on how hot air balloons were unloaded from the trucks, unfolded to the ground, get inflated, burst with fire and finally bloom in the sky. After a few minutes, the beautiful blue sky was filled with multicolor of varied sizes & designs flying big balloons. It was a wonderful and very child-like feeling like we’re back on our childhood days playing and capturing these gigantic balloons. Some of our favorites are the Daisy, Ice cream, Cake and Panda. 

The festival also features a number of events in skydiving, flag jumps, micro light and rocketry demonstrations, helicopter flying exhibitions, freestyle aerobatics, precision maneuvers, light airplane balloon bursting, ultra-light flying formation and bomb dropping, kite-making and choreographed Kite-Flying. After enjoying the balloons, we roam around the field to capture photos of AFP’s armored & military vehicles, weapons, assault rifles, gigantic air/warcrafts, and skydiving outfits.

Sky Diver formation

Since we finished early at the show, we decided to have a side trip at Nayong Pilipino Clark and took our lunch at the famous Aling Lucing’s Sisig and Susie’s pasalubong; tibok-tibok as their specialty which I will blog on my next entry.

Getting the chance to witness this kind of fiesta was really fulfilling and fun-filled not only because of the Big balloons but the chance of spending early Valentines with my friends, no one can replace the memories, experience, and the bonding where everything flies!!! 

Directions to Clark Pampanga:

Getting to the Clark Special Economic Zone by car, take the North Luzon Expressway from Manila and exit at Dau, Mabalacat. Take a left turn towards Angeles City and right turn into Clark. On entering the main gate, proceed along Roxas highway and the Balloon Fiesta will be to your right. Car trips usually take about an hour and a half to two hours from Manila.