Baguio’s Panagbenga Festival is one of the much awaited and attended events in the country. The word “Panagbenga” traces its origins from a Kankanaey term that means “season of blooming”. The festival reflects the history, traditions and values of Baguio and the Cordilleras.
This coming April 2-3, 2022 marks the holding of the first moto festival in the flower festival’s history. Aptly named ‘Bikes in Bloom’, the event aims to reinvigorate Panagbenga’s tradition of showcasing Baguio’s flowers in a fun and safe way. By inviting various riders, highlighting women, to spruce-up their 2-wheeled vehicles (motorcycles, bicycles, scooters) with fresh flowers. These riders will roam around Baguio’s cafes and restaurants to promote MotoTourism and advocate women empowerment as March is also Women’s Month. With this year’s theme “Let Hope Bloom,” the idea is to revive Panagbenga and have an alternative and new way to parade the flowers around the City in place of the usual Street Dancing and Float Parade.
The riders themselves are also required to dress-up in snazzy and classic attire and are encouraged to RIDE, SHOOT, TAG, AND TELL. They are urged to experience and visit at least 5 of Bikes in Bloom’s official partner establishments to take selfies, photos, and video clips as well as add hashtags to be posted on their social media accounts to promote not only Panagbenga, but also the local businesses they have visited. A list of the partner establishments with their addresses (and pin locations at google maps) will be given to the registered riders. At present, social media is a very strong tool for marketing.
Partnering cafes and restaurants engaged in this event will be giving out discounts, coupons, and/or other freebies for the registered riders visiting them. Prizes for the best-dressed bikes and bikers will be posted and announced through MotoCamp Riding School’s page and website.
MotoGlamping up north
In addition to the ‘Bikes in Bloom’ ride through Baguio city, MotoCamp Riding School has another activity is in store for participants. MotoGlamping or motorcycle glamorous camping will be held to help furthermore promote women empowerment through MotoTourism. A maximum of 60 riders (mostly ladies) around the Philippines will be invited to experience the glamorous camping lifestyle in the North. All MotoGlamping participants are required to pre-register and get a QTP code.
Participants of the activity will be proceeding to Petron Lakeshore in the morning of April 2, 2022. This will serve as the convergence point. All registered riders will be given a safety briefing. Rider’s bracelet IDs will be provided for them to be easily identified as a ‘Bikes in Bloom Event Participant.’ At 5:30-6:00 am, a ceremonial take-off will be held to kick off the activities. To learn more details of the activity, visit their social media pages.
Corporate Social Responsibility
As part of MotoCamp Riding School’s mission to reduce the number of the so-called ‘kamote riders’ on the road, the riding school promotes safe, competent and confident riding, especially in the women folk. Their aim is to hold the event to raise funds for the transformative lives of the indigent women of the Cordilleras through the Igorota Foundation, Inc. as the beneficiary.
The New Normal Restrictions
As the region and country opens up its borders, health protocols still apply. For the event, only fully vaccinated registrants are allowed to joint the aforementioned activities.