January 2020 gives us a lot sufferings, calamities and disasters from the eruption of Taal Volcano, Australia’s deadly bushfires, floods in Dubai and Indonesia, Storms that landed in Texas, Alabama disaster who takes lives 11, and also the death of my childhood hero, Kobe Bryant. Hello 2020, hello Novel Corona Virus, you’re the reason why the awaited Panagbenga Festival was postponed and rescheduled. Disasters bring it on!
Baguio City known as the Summer Capital Region of the Philippines with its cool climate making it a great place to escape the scorching heat. Known for tropical forest, home of pine trees “City of Pines”. Place where one of the most popular feast of the country takes place, the Panagbenga Festival, month long flower occasion that is held yearly in the month of February. Not just that it also offers tourist to experience the rich culture and history of Cordillera by visiting BenCab Museum, Heritage Hill and Nature Park Garden, Mines View and Camp John Hay.
Panagbenga was rescheduled though.
This might be a big “ouch” for the people who eager to attend and watch the magnificent incoming parade and the eye-catching view of Baguio City but according to statement Mayor Benjamin Magalong last January 31 of 2020 “After due deliberation, I would like to make an announcement that I am cancelling the Panagbenga street parade tomorrow, “We’re doing this because we just would like to be pro-active about it. We’re very much concerned about the health of our residents and visitors in the city. And we’re just making sure that we’re doing everything pre-emptive,” he said in a press conference.
The rescheduled of Panagbenga activities are the following:
March 15 – Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio including Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom, Cultural Show, Open Kite-Flying Competition and Fireworks Display
March 21 – Opening Parade
March 22 – Panagbenga Cultural Dance Competition
March 28 – Grand Street Parade
March 29 – Grand Float Parade
March 30 to April 5 – Session Road in Bloom
It was rescheduled, so it will continue in the said date. Is this not a risk taking decision? Or is this the right decision?
According to the updates of Department of Health there are 3 confirmed cases of Novel Corona Virus in our country as of February 19, 2020 and they advise the people to avoid the crowd. As for me, the decision made by the Mayor of Baguio City is the right decision not because of the greed for money but because it was taken into consideration not just the health of the public and the residents of the city but also to control the spread of the said virus. So this, this decision, rescheduling of the said event is not a big deal as the residents and also the tourist coming in the said schedules will get to enjoy the activities and also the tourist spots of Baguio City.
Yes, Novel Corona Virus is not a joke, the medical experts doesn’t have a conclusion on how it can be cured so please don’t rely to the information we see on internet for it can mislead a lot of us, what I wanted to point out is for us to feed ourselves with reliable sources released by the Department of Health or World Health Organizations. We must take precaution to this epidemic, brace ourselves and protect our body. In the said dates for the Panagbenga Festival, audiences, let us wear medical mask follow the Centers for disease Control and Prevention for using face masks, for people that are suffering illness like headaches stay at home and watch in your television it can also give you a better view about the activities that will be held, don’t take risk or better yet, consult your doctor or seek medical care before you attend and watch the parade or visit the city, be healthy so you can enjoy the rest of the day, and last but not the least appear in the festival in an hygienic way, wash your hands, wash your body.
I think we can help the other people to enjoy watching this incoming events by preventing this Virus and helping the Baguio City:
- Clean and Green- trashes won’t help us on anything, proper waste disposal is a must.
- Abide with the rules- there’s a lot of ordinance we need to follow, we residents, and we visitors. Example is the No smoking Ordinance, we have smoking areas though.
- Let’s respect each other- Baguio has a lot of problems let us not add to them.
- Avoid the crowd- at least 1 meter according to the World Health Organization.
- Cover your Cough. According to the World Health Organization the virus can be spread if other people breathe into the small droplets that are contained by the cough.
This are just tips but our discipline can help us go through.
Of course let us not forget to enjoy the feast, leave nothing but footprints, and acquire nothing but memories. Tourist, Visitors you are welcome to the city of pines.
ShiRoe's 