Baguio does not look kindly at politicians in Panagbenga

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – This year’s management of the Baguio Flower Festival discourages politicians from campaigning during both the grand street dancing on Feb. 28 and the float parades on March 1. The warning came from Anthony de Leon, chair of the Baguio Flower Festival Committee, which is overseeing this year’s Panagbenga. “Baguio does not look kindly at politicians joining the parades," De Leon said during a press conference Monday. He added, it is to the politicians’ disadvantage if they insisted on marching. De Leon also said the Committee would only allow Panagbenga sponsors’ tarpaulins on the islands. “It would be inappropriate for politicians to hang their streamers or banners there," he said, but adding that it would be the city’s call to remove such. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has specific guidelines on the display of election materials, added De Leon. Some two years ago, politicians surprised an awed audience when some of them openly campaigned in a Panagbenga street dancing parade. Some even received a deafening “boo" from the spectators who did not expect such revelry. - Lyn V. Ramo, Northern Dispatch/GMANews.TV