BAGUIO CITY - City Officials and employees led by Mayor Mauricio Domogan together with the Baguio Flower Festival(BFF) organizers and working committees officially launched the Panagbenga 2011 last Monday at the  Baguio City Hall.

 With the theme “The Environment and Community in Harmony”, the 16^th staging of the Panagbenga  on February next year  will focus on the culture and heritage of the Cordillera together with the promotion of environment protection and conservation.

 BFF co-chairman Anthony De Leon said that the Cordillera culture and heritage will be the main focus of the festival especially on the street dancing competition. He noted  that for the past Panagbenga street dancing parades, slowly the Cordillera theme is not being seen.

 This year it will be Cordillera Color that will stand out during the parade. Choreography, props, costume and music will focus on the Cordillera culture,  said De Leon.

 Domogan, who is the honorary chairman, said that the only way to promote the distinct identity of the Cordillera is to come up with unique activities and events such as Panagbenga and this  can only be seen here in Baguio and the region.

 Domogan added that the celebration will not only promote Cordillera culture and tradition but also on the environmental aspect as well.

 During the month long Panagbenga on February 2011, the clean and green program of the city government will also be promoted in the barangays. This is  one  way to place back the city of Baguio as the Cleanest and Greenest city in the country, said Domogan

The city government will award the cleanest and greenest barangays that have cleaned their community, planted trees and beautified it with flowers and other materials  and  have properly disposed their garbage.

 They will also announce the dirtiest barangays in the city as part of the shame campaign of the city government. This will hopefully  awaken  the non performing barangays in the cleanliness of the city, Domogan said.

 One of the highlights of the BFF 2011 is the inauguration and blessing of the Panagbenga Park located in front of Nevada Square along Loakan Road. The Panagbenga Park will be under the Hotel and Restaurants Association of Baguio.

BFF co-chairman Freddie Alquiros said that the Panagbenga Park which was acquired several years ago is now undergoing enhancements and improvements to make it as one of the tourist destinations in the city.

 Alquiros added that  the Pony Boys Day and the Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom will also be revived as part of the month- long festivities next year. **Redjie Cawis/ PIA