Baguio chill drops to new low ahead of flower fest

BAGUIO MERRY MAKING Baguio City will open the month long celebration of Panagbenga (Baguio flower festival) on Feb. 1 as temperature continues to drop due to cold winds brought by the northeast monsoon. —EV ESPIRITU

BAGUIO CITY — The temperature in this mountain city dropped to a new low this month, registering at 9°C on Wednesday, two days before the opening of the monthlong Panagbenga, or Baguio flower festival.

The plunge at 6:30 a.m. was slightly colder than the 9.8°C on Monday.

It was caused by the cold winds brought by the prevailing northeast monsoon and those from Siberia, said Ceferino Hulipas, chief of the weather bureau station here.

An influx of tourists is expected by the Panabenga organizers, saying February is the “busiest and coldest month” in the city.

Organizers also moved the annual grand parades of street dancers and floats to March 2 and 3 to make the festival a five-week event.

The nippy weather that came earlier this year was normal and would last until the end of February or early March, Hulipas said.

In nearby Mt. Sto. Tomas, sitting at 2,260 meters above sea level, the temperature also dropped to 6.4°C on Wednesday. —Valerie Damian