Every year, Baguio City celebrates the local Panagbenga festival, which represents the blooming season from February to early March. The entire city comes alive with vibrant festivities that showcase the beauty of nature and rich native culture. The festival kicks off with an energetic street parade, where local schools and celebrities come together to display their talents through dance, song and various street performances. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed watching these live performances on television or YouTube, as the anticipation would build up hours before the parade began. People eagerly gather on the streets, in parks, and even secure spots on restaurant balconies to catch the best views of the colorful processions.
Photographs Courtesy of M&D Photography
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If you search for Panagbenga Parades on YouTube, you will come across hour-long videos capturing the entire event as it winds through different parts of the city, culminating at Burnham Park, Melvine Jones. However, these videos hardly capture the true magnificence of the parade. The sounds of the drums, gongs, and occasional echo from the booming sound system reverberate throughout the city, signaling the start of each parade, no matter how far you may be from the heart of the festivities.
Since it is the last day of the Panagbenga, me, my sister, and my cousin seized the opportunity to explore as we had the freedom to do so. We utilized this moment to pay a visit to Acoustic Baboy situated at Upper Session Road. Upon arrival, we noticed a line of people waiting to secure a table at the restaurant. Eventually, our turn came and the staff guided us to our designated table. Opting for the Unlimited Pork priced at 199 with various side dishes such as Pancit, Kimchi, Sweet baby potatoes, Fish cake, Lettuce, and Cucumber. Our dining experience commenced at approximately 2:50 pm and concluded at around 4:40 pm. The enjoyable meal and lively conversation kept us engaged for a full two hours during our stay at the restaurant.
After that, we took a leisurely walk along Session Road. Our journey commenced from the lower section, moving upwards and reversing our path. The stalls showcased a diverse range of items including food, souvenirs, and more. Additionally, we also visited the Market Encounter and Rose Garden at Burnham Park.
