BAGUIO CITY: Local officials and organizers of the 22nd Baguio Flower Festival or Panagbenga said the visit of 24 Miss Universe beauty pageant candidates to the Summer Capital in January 2017 will set the tone for tourists during the month-long festivities.
Panagbenga is celebrated annually in February.
Anthony de Leon, Baguio Country Club (BCC) general manager and co-chairman of the Panagbenga executive committee, said that when the beauty contestants visit the city on January 18, they will have a glimpse of the crowd-drawing event through a mini-float and street dancing parade from the Panagbenga Park along South Drive up to the premises of the only exclusive club in the city.
De Leon said winners of the elementary and secondary street dancing competition in last year’s grand parade will go with the four flower-decorated floats and the beauty candidates will ride throughout the five-kilometer parade route.
Reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines will ride the main float for the parade.
The New York Police Department will serve as close-in security of the visiting beauties while the Baguio City Police Office will provide route security from the Loakan airport and along the parade route.
The BGC security personnel will take charge of the candidates’s security once they arrive in the club premises.
http://www.manilatimes.net/miss-universe-bets-witness-panagbenga/297850/