33 floral floats to be featured in 2024 Panagbenga grand parade

Baguio City, Philippines – One of the crowd-drawing and much-awaited events during the annual celebration of the Panagbenga Festival is the Grand Float Parade.

Last year, around 50,000 people flocked to the streets of the summer capital to witness the float parade, with various celebrities adding to the vibrant energy of the festivities.

This year, with the event and the Grand Street Dance Parade, scheduled for a long weekend, a large number of tourists headed to the city to personally experience the celebration of the rich culture and creative tapestry of the city of Pines.

While the grand parade concluded today, February 24, tomorrow will be dedicated to the parade of the 33 competing and non-competing grand floats adorned with colorful, fresh flowers.

The parade route would be from Upper Session Road to Melvin Jones Football Grounds.

The competing floral floats include 2 in the small float category, 14 in the medium category, and 13 in the large category.

Leading the way would be the floats of the city government of Baguio, the Department of Tourism, the Baguio Country Club, and SM City Baguio.

While celebrities are expected to add color anew to the activity, some notable individuals who would be headlining the float parade are the Miss Universe Philippines queens from Baguio City.

They are MUPH Baguio 2022 Ghenesis Latugat, MUPH Baguio 2023 Krishnah Gravidez, and MUPH Baguio 2024 Tarah Valencia.

Alec Mapalo, the city’s tourism officer, said Gravidez, the current Miss Charm Philippines, will be personifying the float of the city government for this year, which features ‘Lampong’.

‘Lampong’, according to him, is ‘the guardian of animals in Igorot folklore and said to be a forest spirit that possesses the extraordinary ability to metamorphose into a white deer with a single luminous eye, luring hunters away from their original target.’

“Beyond being a mere legend, Lampong stands as an important symbol in the Cordilleras, showing the wisdom that's been shared for generations about living in harmony with nature. It teaches us that every action carries consequences, underscoring the importance of treating the forest with the utmost respect and gratitude,” he added.

In the float, the everlasting flower, the recently declared official flower of Baguio, will be flaunted.