Among the month-long festivities of Panagbenga 2017, the Grand Float Parade would probably be one of our favorites. For one, it is the literal embodiment of what the Flower Festival is about – the beauty of nature and Cordilleran culture. We always look forward to the new and exciting ways that these grandiose mobile floral sculptures are executed. As a bonus, a few celebrities come up to Baguio, and we all know how we Pinoys are when it comes to famous personalities.
The morning started out cloudy. But thankfully, the day went smoothly as the parade made its way from DILG, down Session Road, to Harrison Road, and finally, Melvin Jones Football Field, where the competing floats would be judged.
Street dancers and marching bands from the previous day’s parade, cosplayers and mascots, and other performers provided interludes to the floats, also displaying their vibrant amounts of energy in their colorful costumes.
The audience was also very keen in pointing out the different “baes” who didn’t have to stand on floats of their own to get the people swooning. -insert SFX of fan girling aunties-
There were nineteen competing floats in total – nine for the small float category, and ten for the big float category.
It will forever be a mystery how many singular pieces of flowers go into these titanic mobile floral arrangements.
Baguio Country Club and SM, winners of the previous years, were not in the running of the competition, but they still went all out with a Game of Thrones float and fairy tale-themed float, respectively.
Baguio pride and joy Kylie Versoza, Miss International 2016, dazzled with her radiant beauty aboard the Tropicana float.
Remember Carrot Man who went viral early 2016? He was there too! And Basketball star Asi Taulava interacted with his fans.
Perhaps the biggest and loudest cheers were out for Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards, who were both super cute together in their gazebo-like GMA float. *Pabebe waves*
But of course, the energy for the GMA float was matched by that of ABS-CBN’s, with Enchong Dee and Bea Alonzo. Bea even sang atop her float to keep the energy going.
Jericho Rosales was super chill on his float, even taking his own pictures of the event.
But of course, despite the celebrities and personalities present, the true stars of this parade are the craftsmanship, creativity, and effort put into the majestic floats.
The final float made its final lap, and everyone got ready for the next best thing about Panagbenga 2017 – the chibog fest we call Session in Bloom! Yaaaay!
For more photos of the Panagbenga 2017 Float Parade, check out our Facebook Page! Special thanks to Lei Nuñez and Cherry May Empeño-Estioco for partnering with Where To, Baguio on the photos.
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