Panagbenga Pampahabol (Panagbenga Follow Up)

trying to get a closer pic to the city's Angry Birds float

Wrapping up February, here's a rundown of some other stuff we visited during Panagbenga 2012 here in Baguio City:

The Float Parade:

Perhaps the highlight of the Flower Festival, floats of various shapes and sizes, displaying an assortment of flowers and other forms of greenery draws hundreds of thousands of visitors up the highlands. Starting out with a few floats made by local establishments, government offices and schools and universities of the city back in 1996, the number of floats  now more than tripled, and have included delegates from media companies, consumer product corporations and even other cities in the Philippines and delegates for abroad. 

To get the best view of the parade, head out early. Be there on the streets as early as 6 in the morning to get a pick of your viewing spot. The drawback of getting the best seats though is that once the sun climbs high in the sky, escaping the heat may be a bit of a problem as layers upon layers of people will probably be blocking your way. Wear a hat, sunglasses and brings lots of water. Incidents of fainting from the heat are quite common. Medical volunteers and an ambulance are on standby though for such incidents. 

If you're like the rest of my family and don't want to go through the crowd but would want to see the floats up close and personal, you can wait for the rest of the floats to end up at the Baguio Athletic Bowl. It is here where all the floats congregate for the final judging. Personally, we waited till the late afternoon when the event was over and done with as most of the floats are left there to be on display. Taking a picture of the floats in their entirety may prove difficult though as a lot of people are doing the same. So recommending this if you have small kids with you. 

admiring one of the finalists in the landscaping contest

The Market Encounter:

As mentioned in the previous blog, the Market Encounter at the Burnham Park Skating Rink gave me the opportunity to buy great finds. We ended up buying various herbs (mint, lemon balm, rosemary, basil) and even a full grown Malaysian Chili plant all for 200 php. Throw in a Bangkok lemon tree for 140 php and 2 silver eucalyptus trees (to repel mosquitoes)  for 380/tree, we had our green thumbs twiddling in delight. The landscape entries were quite interesting. It certainly made us want to have a garden that pretty in the backyard :)

Speedlimits Transhow in Bloom:

Perhaps the highlight of this activity at the Baguio Convention Center parking lot was the concert that came at the end of the day. I felt the 50 php entrance fee to view the handful of cars on the lot was to fund the concert's after party. Didn't watch the concert, but we brought MAX(who loves cars) to see the vehicles featured in the show. MAX didn't get all worked up about it. The best car for me was a toss up between this old Plymouth and this shiny yellow truck that reminded me of Mater the tow truck in Disney's Cars. Maybe the can have other features and other "showcase cars" to feature. Even our lil car lover was a bit bored.

I liked the old stuff from the '60s that was displayed inside the Plymouth

I'll pick my Maclaren Quest anytime buddy :p

boom boom BASS!

it's not THAT bad son! smile for Papa!

There were so many more activities that we weren't able to attend, but we were quite happy with all the sights and sounds that we encountered. All in all, the Panagbenga celebrations in Baguio just keep getting bigger and better. Can't imagine how they could top this year's, but they probably would.

Off to our next adventure...wherever and whenever it may be!

From TMW, may all your wanderings be better than ours.

Good Ol' Reliable...Mario's Baguio

MAX and moi at Mario's

Valentine's Day may be over and done with, but I'm sure a lot of us would want to keep all  that love and romance alive 24/7.

Tuscany platter

Perhaps violin music, a candlelit dinner and a great bottle of wine spells romance for some. In our household, nothing spells love like great food. Usually, it's awesome home cooked meals that are appreciated. But on those special days, one can count on Mario's Restaurant.

step inside ...

Opened in the 70's here in Baguio City, the flavors were so good that another one was opened a decade later in Quezon City. The one we've got here is conveniently located along Upper Session Road.

Continental cuisine covers much of their menu selections. My personal faves are their Spanish dishes and US choice cut steaks. They also make huge and appetizing salads. A must try is their Crepes Jubilee (or, as described in their menu (mango, banana or strawberry (when in season) bathed in fine liqueurs and flamed over ice cream).

some salad we requested for that's not on the menu 

**Quick tidbit on steaks in general:  There are 3 kinds of beef grade; Prime, Choice and Select. Prime indicates that the meat cut has a moderately abundant amount of marbling, Choice means it's got a  moderate  amount of marbling and Select to indicate a slight marbling on the steak. For the curious, marbling is the streaks of fat found on lean meat).

Surtido de Tapas: spicy chicken wings, chorizo, drunken shrimps and fried squid rings w/ 3 sauces

Reservations are only hard to come by during the holidays, on Valentines and graduation season. Usually, you could easily get a table for one, 2 or six at a moment's notice. They usually have Sunday lunch buffets that vary. Here's their website for contact details as well as their menu.

chicken and sausage jambalaya

We had our Valentine's lunch date (with our 3 year old) at Mario's this year. Despite having a special menu for the date, nothing speaks to us more than eating tripe and tongue on a February 14.

lengua con setas

For those imagining the worst, I had my fave, Lengua Con Setas or tender ox tongue boiled in wine sauce with mushrooms and olives. Phil had Callos Madrilena or a tripe Spanish styled stew with it's delicious tomato based sauce, potatoes and garbanzo beans. 

Callos

MAX just had mashed potatoes and gravy that's why he managed to tuck in more than half a slice of Banoffee Pie. I also included some food pics from previous visits to the place.

better late than never...our banoffee pie

Another thing about Mario's that makes it a great place to head out to is the service. fast, efficient and quite intuitive, over-tipping is a common practice. The ambiance itself is cozy, intimate yet comfortable enough for a casual meal. Parking is rarely a problem, although one might have to park across the street on those "crowded" days I mentioned above.

some skewered seafood

You can also have made to order cakes for all occasions. Their chocolate cakes are simply to die for!

a complimentary V-day gift from Mario's...

You can always be assured of a great and a good time at Mario's.

...that used to have four dark chocolate and peppermint truffles in them :)

satisfied customers (still have to find our latest pic together at Mario's)

From TMW, may all your wanderings be better than ours.

A Quick Tip From The Mediocre Wanderer : Panagbenga In Baguio

The Sunflower...a symbol of Panagbenga

A whole month of festivities this February is brought on by Baguio City's celebration one of it's primary commodity: flowers.  Competitions, concerts, parades, trade fairs and so much more activities bring fun and excitement to the city's residents, but more so, to the expected millions of tourists who will be coming up to experience the yearly event. As I write this blog, a throng of residents and tourists crowd the main thoroughfares of the city's central business district to watch the street dancing parade/competition.

flower power

an entry in the annual Panagbenga Landscaping Competition

I've probably watched 3 or 4 such parades in Panagbenga throughout its 16 year existence and have opted to view it in the comfort of our home via cable TV instead. Though we stay in to avoid the crowds, the Panagbenga street and Float parade is a true visual treat that one has to experience at least once. 

We could almost hear the bees in the area say : "Bee-utiful!"

Another must see is the Landscape Competition set up around the Burnham Park skating rink. Around 30 or more contestants enter the various categories to showcase their landscaping skills and creative incorporation of various elements , especially their artistic usage of plants and flowers. If you're a gardening buff, this is sure to get your green thumbs itching for some yard action. Entrance is free.

Shopping time!

ethnic wood carvings

happy coin banks, making savings fun

 A toilet paper dispenser/statue. Tissue comes out of the mouth. Who would've thought?!  

a Bangkok lemon tree for sale. The lemon hanging on the branch is the size of a small pineapple

dolphin friends!!!! (I so looove dolphins)

woven pot cozies, carved wooden trays and hot pot mats

Right beside the landscaping contest entries is the annual Market Encounter. Little shops showcasing handicrafts native to Baguio, such as wood carvings, toys, paintings, home decors, sweaters, shawls and other souvenir shop staples as well as various herbs, flowers and decorative plants. Feel free to haggle in these shops. Food kiosks are on hand as well,  just in case you get hungry after a bit of shopping. 

buy 1 take 1 on baskets. these could also double as magazine holders 

trinkets, peanut brittle, strawberry jam and ube

coin purses and bags for kids

If you've got little ones with you who are a bit bored from being dragged around while you look for the perfect item to bring home, the functional skating rink in the center of the market encounter is still open to the public. It's got it's own restaurant as well as a variety of rides and bump cars right in the middle of the rink. There truly is a little something for everyone.

well ventilated, clean and safe, the Burnham Park  skating rink
is still a good place to stay under the shade and have fun minus the crowd

shawarma!

the infamous naughty boy fountain

Barbie-like dolls dressed in crocheted dresses

fresh herbs

paintings

Tomorrow, the most awaited float parade shall be taking place at Session Road. It will then proceed to the Baguio Athletic bowl as it's last stop. 

a 12,000 php wood carving 

note the detail and intricacy of this hardwood  artwork. while the figures are all interlock, the wood carver managed to delicately carve in movable details like the baskets and earrings. 

To all those attending the event, don't forget your hats, towels and sunglasses to shield you from the heat. an umbrella may be great for your skin, but potentially dangerous to somebody's eye in a crowd. Apply a healthy amount of sunblock as well.  Bring water and snacks and everything you could possibly need with you as your car may be parked a good distance AWAY from you. Wear sneakers and do expect to walk. Be wary of strangers approaching you with suspicious deals and promos and watch out for pickpockets. I'm sure our local law enforcement will be quite visible but you can never tell.

belated Valentine presents

All in all, have a great time in Baguio and hope to see you all again in next year's Panagbenga!

From TMW, may all your wanderings be better than ours!