Home > Op-ed | To bottom

Panagbenga: whose festival is it?

Congressman Mauricio Domogan led Baguio Flower Festival Foundation (BFFF) and Mayor Braulio Yaranon led Baguio Panagbenga Flower Festival Association (BPFFA) have been contesting each other for the sponsorship of this year’s Panagbenga festival.

The effort of concerned groups to unite the two groups for a single festival is now a dream, which seems unrealizable. Each had already scheduled their parallel activities for the said festival.

Business groups in the city, in a last move, called on the two contending groups to set aside their differences for a united celebration. The groups included the Baguio Association of Hotels and Inns (BAHAI) and the Hotel and Restaurants Association of Baguio (HRAB). Of course, their move is anchored with their business interests – a united celebration can gather more tourists for their businesses and a divided one discourages their arrival.

Observers claimed that the two celebrations are manifestations of a divided local politics – one headed by the mayor and the other by the congressman. In fact, the rift is extending to their followers among local politicians and corporate interests. However, this is a partial picture of the whole Panagbenga conflict.

Among the issues being raised in the past Panagbenga, was the failure of the BFFF people to explain the utilization of the involved funds, both to the funds extended by the local government or the income realized from the celebrations. Particularly being pointed out were the celebrations in the years 2003-2004 where the local government extended financial support for the celebrations, which total to P4.4 million. But the BFFF has no explanations in relation with the funds usage. It is very clear that when public funds are to be utilized for any activity – like the Panagbenga – there must be consequential report as to how the funds were utilized. But there was none despite the city government extended the money for the celebrations in the years 2003 and 2004. The P 4.4 million is public money. Hence, it must be submitted for the public as to how it was utilized.

For me, however, my interest is more on the fund-related controversy where some local officials during the 2003 and 2004 celebrations allegedly received honoraria from the income realized from the celebrations. I found that act of receiving honoraria by some local officials as CONDEMNABLE. They had been receiving their fat salaries as local officials. Receiving honoraria is a concrete manifestation of conflict of interest. Even if it is coming from a private initiated or organized activity, the receipt of that fund from such group would not exempt them from the conflict of interest. That is financial opportunism by public officials. That is in essence graft.

If these officials claimed they had contributed for the success of the celebrations that would entitle them for the honorarium, we have different groups who contributed for the celebrations too. In fact, these groups have exerted more than the efforts of these politicians. We have the schoolchildren that did all the means, through the help of their mentors, in coming up with effective and attractive presentations. Instead ofthe students receiving support from the local government for their materials and expenses, the local officials received the honorarium instead. We urge then the officials during that period to publicly deny any receipt of honorarium, if indeed they took nothing. Else, I urge my fellow journalists that this is an interesting subject for investigative journalism: Who among the local officials were involved in receiving honorarium on the Panagbenga celebrations in the year 2003 and 2004?

Another issue arising from the Panagbenga celebration is the concept of the activity. Panagbunga literally means in Ibaloi a period of flowering. However, even the term had lost its meaning as it is pronounced wrongly. The celebrations failed to share how the term was derived. It is corrupted for corporate interests rather than educational purposes. While it patronize the sale of flowers allegedly produced in Benguet, the activities are tailored to draw tourists that would spend their money in the different establishments in the city – like the hotels, restaurants among others.

I am in favor of a Panagbenga festival that is educational; where the children are encouraged to learn from historical backgrounds of Panagbunga, the culture and situations of the people during the real panagbunga in life; where the local government provides support for these people-oriented and educational celebrations rather than for the corporate interests. If the mayor led celebration can adopt these recommendations, their celebration would make a difference. It would be worth supporting.

Regardless of the recommendations however, I urge the organizers of the past Panagbenga to settle the fund-related issues during their time. #

Post your comments, reactions to this article

Home > Op-ed | Back to top