BAGUIO CITY—Traffic was stalled at the summer capital on Sunday. But residents were more forgiving because downtown Session Road was packed with school children in costumes who performed for the opening parade of the 14th Panagbenga (Baguio Flower Festival), a month-long activity here.

The street parade has been scheduled on Feb. 28, while the float parade will be on March 1.

Yellow, orange and green dominated the colors used on Sunday by over 1,000 school children who represented 17 public and private elementary schools in the city.

Pupils from the Doña Aurora Elementary School showed up wearing bright butterfly wings with their green blouses. Another batch of students danced while wearing large petals around their necks.

Many of the participating school children wore costumes that used recycled materials like sacks and discarded snack bags and juice boxes.

Teachers who accompanied the children said recycling is a common school theme in Baguio classrooms.

Senior Supt. Wilfredo Franco, city police director and chair of the festival’s peace and order committee, said the launching parade would test a new traffic rerouting scheme that was imposed by the Baguio police last week.

Traffic jams have plagued the city during the Christmas and New Year holidays, which were the start of Baguio’s peak tourist season.

Franco said about 5,000 residents and tourists showed up to watch the inaugural parade on Sunday.

The only glitch in the festivities occurred at noon. Some of the participating children fled when a skydiver from the Philippine National Police missed his mark and landed near them at Burnham Park’s Melvin Jones football grounds.

Baguio Rep. Mauricio Domogan, in a speech, said steering up tourist traffic and creating an identity for the city were reasons for sustaining the flower festival.

But he said nurturing a “culture of caring” must be the fundamental reason for holding a festival for Baguio.

The phrase “culture of caring,” which Domogan cited, is the theme of Baguio’s centennial celebration that began on Jan. 1.

Barangay (village) leaders, civic groups and vendors spent Saturday night and Sunday dawn cleaning up the streets to prepare for the annual event.

On Sunday, the festival organizers also opened the “Market Encounter,” an annual bazaar, at the Burnham Park’s skating rink.

A fluvial parade at Burnham Lake is scheduled on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day.

At least two street parties have been scheduled this month. Abanao Street near the public market would be closed from Feb. 26 to 28 for a series of concerts called “Abanao Nights.”

The festival will end in the first week of March, when the city closes downtown Session Road for a weeklong bazaar and trade fair. Vincent Cabreza, Elmer Kristian Dauigoy, EV Espiritu, Jacquelyn Basilan and Rejean Gorgonio, Inquirer Northern Luzon