Panagbenga street parade blessed with fair weather
Elementary students from Ilocos and Cordillera region wear their traditional attire as they compete at the street dancing competition at the 22nd Panagbenga festival. Gobleth Moulic/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON
BAGUIO CITY–Thank God, it didn’t rain today!
After the rains Friday afternoon, parents and teachers were relieved to experience sunshine and good weather when children from various schools joined the street dancing competition at the 22nd Panagbenga festival at 8 a.m. Saturday.
As early as 5 a.m., students from Baguio and far flung provinces of Cordillera and Ilocos region assembled at Panagbenga Park in Barangay South Drive here to join the annual street dancing competition.
The mercury rose to 15.2 degrees Celsius at 5 this morning, which is just the right chill for kids participating in the grand street parade, said Leticia Dispo, weather specialist here.
Asked how he prepared for the contest, a G-string wearing student from Quezon Hill Elementary School here, said having been performing before a large audience since 2012, Panagbenga’s street dancing contest seems “normal” to him.
“I’m used to it. I’ve been very familiar with my moves,” he told the INQUIRER as he cheerfully beat the gong to the delight of thousands of local and foreign tourists who lined up the major streets.
Elementary students from Benguet, Mountain Province, Kalinga and Ifugao, who were all smiles as they danced through the streets here, wore their best indigenous attire such as tapis, a traditional skirt for women, and bahag or G-string, the traditional attire for men.
Elementary students from Ilocos and Cordillera region wear their traditional attire as they compete at the street dancing competition at the 22nd Panagbenga festival. Gobleth Moulic/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON
The kids who were part of the drum and lyre corps pinned different flowers, leaves and colorful accessories on their bodies as they performed the Panagbenga Hymn composed by the late Macario Fronda.
Among the crowd were families who brought their small children to watch the street parade. They brought cameras, hats, food and drinks and lined up the streets as early as 6 a.m. to get the best view. CDG
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