3 reasons that will make your Panagbenga Festival visit worthwhile

Thousands of Filipinos go to Baguio just to experience the Panagbenga Festival, but only a few people really understand the essence of the event.
In the recent years, the Panagbenga Festival has been so commercialized, it seems that the theme " Nature" and " Sustainability" is not met.
The Flower Parade instead of showcasing real creativity-- is filled with 90% advertising, only 10% of the remaining original theme and Igorot culture remains in the festivities.

Instead of experiencing the beauty of the Pine trees or having the chance to see the fantastic flowers and vegetable produce of Baguio and La Trinidad, most tourists are stuck in traffic.

There is hardly any beauty to be found in the yearly Market Encounter found in Burnham Park, the stalls are just filled with common "tiangge" or Made in China products, while the Session in Blooms regardless to say lacks character and originality-- common Fast food chains and restaurants take over the place-- its as if the stalls in SM City Baguio just went down- to offer the same thing that people all over the Philippines have already tried.

While this is a depressing thought, not everything should be depressing about a tourist visit to Baguio, after all the City of Baguio still has some of the best artists the world has seen.

Here are 3 ways to make your Panagbenga Festival visit worthwhile:

1. A chance to meet and see the works of Baguio artists


Needless to say, without the Baguio art community-- Baguio would be nothing.  Only the Baguio artists who continue to inspire creative works in the city remain as the only thing that will make a Baguio resident proud of their culture.
 Surprisingly, the city has yet to honor the efforts of various Baguio artists that continue to uphold the dignity of the city.


Vocas Artists and newly founded artist groups are the stronghold of the Baguio Community. Why?
Because without their creative thinking--there is hardly anything you would want to tour in the City that was once called the City of Pines..

In order to appreciate Baguio artists-- you need to visit some of the best artworks that they have created with combined efforts all over the city.

Not every artist in Baguio is mentioned in newspapers or documentaries, not everyone has been given the chance to get their names known like Ben Cab or Kidlat Tahimik-- but it does not mean that their work is not valuable, or that their work does not inspire countless of visitors in Baguio every year.

Where to go: Ben Cab Museum, Illy Likha art resto cafe ( Assumption Road),  Anito Bar& Cafe ( Mines View Park,  Tam-Awan arts village.

When we talk about Baguio artists, we are also talking about poetry slam artists-- fortunate guests who arrive in the right time would be able to hear some of the best poetry slam artists in Baguio perform their award winning poems in Mt. Cloud Bookshop.



Mt. Cloud Book shop is located at Casa, Vallejo a century old hotel in Baguio City.

When we say art, we also consider the efforts of theater performance artists such as Rey Angelo Aurelio and Dumay Solinggay who collaborate with Japanese artists and artists from all over the world--to produce one of a kind stage plays not only in Baguio but the entire Philippines.

People who want to see them perform live, could try their luck by hanging out in usual places where artists hang out like Assumption  Road, La Azotea, Anito Bar Cafe , Mt. Cloud bookshop, SLU CCA and U.P Baguio.

2. Baguio Musicians


Ever heard of Power Puff Corn? The Edralins?  the band Session road? well there is certainly more of this amazing talents in Baguio.

Although this people are not usually featured in TV shows like Darryl Shy or the Metamorphosis dancing group, you can be sure that lots of them still exist in the city of Baguio.

 Baguio is complete with every musician you can imagine, this is the home of theater performer, singer and composer Karlo Altomonte and the group Open Space.


This is also the home of John Gaerlan, a classical music artist who is also teaching music lessons at the University of Baguio.

Open Space is just one of the best theater and singer performers that can be found in Baguio-- they are composed of some of the best singers the country has seen.

If you feel like being entertained by classy and sophisticated voices-- go to  the Forest House and catch Ethan Andrew Ventura and wife  doing a memorable performance.

Some of the best musical groups still perform in some of the best bars and restaurants in Baguio. If you want to hear them sing, try your luck at Casa, Vallejo ( Hill Station) Ki'Kan bar ( former Ayuyang Bar at Gov. Pack road)

Ki'kan bar features some of the best folk singers in town, if you feel like hearing some of the best bands in Baguio try Ki'kan-- you won't be disappointed. If you just want laid back romantic music, you can try Duyan Bar owned by Brix Tan.



The Baguio music scene is still alive, and there are still noteworthy bands that people can check out.

Did I forget to mention this is also the home of the brilliant University of the Cordilleras Chorale and Orchestra?

During the Panagbenga Festival, Baguio musicians often come together at an event called " Baguio Music Festival", it is a free public event that is usually set on John Hay grounds near Techno Hub.

Have a picnic with the family while listening to brilliant artists..

3. Baguio Environmentalist Groups

Despite the deteriorating natural beauty of Baguio, some dedicated groups in Baguio are working hard to restore the former glory of Baguio.



There  are certain groups that are set on creating Eco-Forest parks that will benefit the people of Baguio in the long run.

This groups are highly active and continue to encourage residents and people outside Baguio to plant trees and more.

Some of the more prominent figures will include Michael Bengwayan and his FB group a Tree a Day, there is also another active community group by Sonn Fernandez called Save the needy Now.

 People who want to involve themselves in creative and environmental projects can add them up on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Atreeaday/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/463627880409008/

 If you feel like planting, or visiting private forest parks in Asin and Badiwan Habitat in order to help out and feel nature for a moment while in Baguio then this are the key people to contact.

Another forest park is being created called the Badiwan Habitat, it is still in the works. In the future it will be useful for so many people not only in Baguio.

Fruit bearing trees and amazing artworks are set to be created in Asin and places near Baguio. People visiting in Baguio could one day plant trees and place their names on it. One day sooner than expected people could actually dedicate trees for dead loved ones.

Groups such as this are getting more and more creative when it comes to making sure that the trees of Baguio will remain standing.

Remember the group that protested SM City Baguio for planning to cut 182 trees? well the members have been spread out all over the country to help spread out what they have learned about real environmental advocacy.

What to check: Asin Forest Park
Badiwan Habitat

https://www.facebook.com/groups/495279257193181/

https://www.facebook.com/libinganpark?ref=profileit.

Baguio City is so much more than just the Panagbenga Festival. Get to know the real community.

Just Do It!

As the facts slowly emerge, what the public has learned is that the bus was full of adventurous people in the prime of their lives. Among those who died were artistic souls who sought to connect their art with the real world. As young as they were, they had lived their dream. (A bus full of dreamers- GMA network)

The death of comedian actor " Tado" Jimenez along with 13 other creative souls while riding a bus for the purpose of a nature trip got me thinking.

Everyone seemed to think this was a tragic thing to happen, but death is everywhere- it can happen anytime, even the actor Tado was quoted saying pag oras mo na oras mo na kahit nasaan ka.

Tado was one rare Filipino celebrity, he is involved with a lot of advocacy especially environmental projects and the latest was with Dakila, a group he founded along with artist friends.

Ironically this was also the project that would claim his life.

I am not saddened because like I have said death is everywhere, it can happen while you are peacefully sleeping in your room.

In fact, I felt it was a poetic thing...to die while going on a nature trip with people who have creative souls...
To die while in a state of peace and rush at the same time...

In the past, my life was just a routine... I go to the office as a call center agent and work from Mondays to Saturdays.

The only recreation I have is trips in the bar, late night drinking sprees or going to the mall after my shift and drinking expensive coffee-expensive coffee that tastes just like any other cheap coffee.i

I get  my monthly salary just like every worker in the world, but the sad part is that I feel no gratification in buying clothes, gadgets or appliances--this was not the life I have envisioned--no gadget can make me happy for a long time--brand new shoes are just impressive for several minutes--after purchasing them the rush suddenly goes away.

In fact, I barely had anytime to live at all; I don't even notice how beautiful the sunrise or the sunset is because I am always tired. I don't have the time to talk to friends, did not have the time to play with pets, did not have the time to smell the flowers in the parks and gardens in the city...

While I did have good friends and good experiences while working at this environment--i felt empty.

Most of the time I just cry in my room, asking why I am in this situation and am there no other way to live my life- i had to wake up and fulfill my duties at work--but I don't know why I do this things--all my money goes to paying bills--every  month bills come and they increase and the cycle does not end.

Perhaps, that same wish led me to my current life...deep inside I wanted to be just like Tado or people like him...

I remember asking the universe to give me an awesome life...to allow  me to meet awesome people. I cried in desperation for all of this...and got them...the process was swift...the process involved great journeys...

People like Tado who join Fun Runs for a Cause, tree planting projects, who trekked on top of Mt. Pulag, who explored places  that some can only dream of- people who can just travel anytime--anywhere--people who trusted life..- people who chose their work and projects because they love doing it--they did things because they believe in them.

A life of integrity, creativity, balance and truth...

I want to be able travel from North to South..east to west... places in Mindanao fascinates me..exploring caves and  trying out experiences that cannot be bought by money.

I wanted to be free, while money is undeniably important--I don't want money to become my master--Life should not be about constant worrying of electrical bills, rent bills, water bills--there has to be some way to get out of my sad state.

It should not be lived impressing parents or others i--because this is your life--in the end you will not be able to blame anyone if you have not enjoyed it.

You need to do everything that you can to make sure that the life you are having right now--is based on your own will and decisions--that is the only way you will be able to justify it.

The death of these creative souls reminded me of my journey together with Baguio artists and several artists based on Singapore and Japan way back 2012.

We took the bus, there were around 27 people in the bus...despite coming from different backgrounds and having different jobs--we all had one common goal.--to enjoy life!

We took that bus ride and journeyed for 5 straight days to various places, we camped out and just set up bonfires and the artists shared their artworks to the community. Art should not be placed inside museums--art should be lived.

Perhaps, if it was our bus who fell down the mountain...I would still say the same thing...death is everywhere, death is not a sad thing--because I know that if it were our bus who fell down there-- we each would die without any regrets.

For how will we die with regrets when everyday our life revolved around bonfires, cooking pinikpikan, drinking brewed coffee, dancing to our hearts content--doing projects that we love to do--how will we die with regrets when we have poured out our hearts to the people we love even if they have rejected us.

How can we die in vain, when we have experienced being with kindred souls...people who have accepted us despite our weirdness...despite the fact that we can't offer much on the material aspect of things...?

How will you die with regret when we have experienced conversing with each other from 8pm to 9am in the morning...without stopping--because we have just enjoyed each other's company too much...?

The people I met whether they come from Baguio or any part of the world are individuals lived their lives outside the expectation of the world.

Many of my friends have traveled to more than 40 cities and more than 15 countries--despite not having any material things to boast about in life...

I call them the Just Do it people.... people who are brave enough to let out their inner soul and people who told life. I am here--Let's make this life an eternal party!

The person I have become was a totally different person 5 years ago...it seems amazing now that I am not even afraid to die--and that I know deep inside that people like Tado have lived their lives content and with no regret...

A lot of ideologies will tell you to avoid loving yourself too much--but then if you cannot love yourself…you will not be able to love anybody else... a lot of teachings will tell you to forget who you are and what you feel...a lot of teachings will tell you to sacrifice at the expense of yourself...

I say those are all lies...listen to you...Just Do it!