BAGUIO, PHILIPPINES – A group called Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI) says that there will be about 33 flower floats in the show on Sunday.

Twenty-nine of them will be fighting in different groups. Chief Executive Officer Anthony de Leon said there are almost twice as many entries this year as last year when there were only 14 to 15 boats, he said, “Floats cost a lot.”

According to De Leon, there is no competition amongst the flower floats during the Panagbenga, or Baguio Flower Festival. 

Alternatively, they are judged according to a set of guidelines, the most significant of which is that ninety-five percent of their decorations consist of fresh flowers, plants, and greenery. 

He added that the average cost of a massive float is PHP 500,000. The cost increases if the truck is rented since it must remain at the location where it is being readied for three to four weeks. 

The Panagbenga Secretariat’s Chief of Staff, Evonne Payno, stated that following Valentine’s Day, flower prices occasionally drop. 

“This year, we were told that flower prices would stay high and stable, making floats pricey.” She stated, “But we’re glad those who said they would be in the parade meant it.”

She added that the winners were the Department of Tourism, the Baguio Country Club, SM Baguio, the Baguio City Government, and both of them are Hall of Famers.

According to her, 14 medium-sized floats are taking part. 

• Bingo Plus
• Commission on Elections
• Converge ICT Solutions, Inc.
• KFC Philippines
• Mang Inasal
• Palawan Pawnshop and Palawan Express Pera Padala
• Paragon Hotel and Suites
• Unilever Philippines (Knorr)
• Unilever Philippines (Sunsilk)
• Unilever Philippines (Surf Fabric Conditioner)
• Unilever Philippines Inc. (Surf Powder)

The 13 giant floats entries are owned by the following:

• Bases Conversion Development Authority and John Hay Management Corp.
• Binggrae
• Glamorous Urdaneta City
• GMA Kapuso/Walang matigas na pulis sa matinik na missis program
• Gorden Arches Corp./McDonald’s Philippines
• International Pharmaceutical Inc.
• Jollibee Foods Corp.
• National Authority for Child Care/Regional Authority for Childcare
• Nongshim
• Regasco
• Pangasinan Solid North Transit
• SCD
• Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise

“We hope to have more next year now that we have the small float or cart, which doesn’t require as much planning,” said Payno.

Sources:(1),(2),(3)

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