By
Manila Standard Today
This was the assessment made by US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Golberg on Saturday at the sidelines of the street dancing parade, one of the highlights of Panagbenga.
DANCING IN THE STREETS. Student- participants in the Panagbenga
street dancing competition make their moves on Saturday,
celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Baguio flower festival.
DAVID CHAN
Goldberg, who spoke in front of a mammoth crowd gathered at the Baguio Athletic Bowl for the grand street dancing parade, said Filipinos and Americans have a long history to speak of ranging from struggles during the World War II and eventual successful suppression of the Japanese forces and eventually to being robust partners in trade and commerce.
He said Baguio City has always been a home for the Americans outside Metro Manila because of the existence of the Ambassador’s Residence within the Camp John Hay which was the former American military base and a historical site. It was the venue where Gen. Tomoyoki Yamashita, leader of the Japanese Imperial Army, signed his surrender paper to the allied forces on September 3, 1945, Goldberg added.
“We are awed by the active participation of the people in the flower festival and the resourcefulness in making the flowers a true representation of friendship, unity, team works and solidarity among the local residents and visitors,” Goldberg said.
The US envoy pointed out that with the city’s cool and romantic weather, pine-scented air and scenic spots coupled with the annual conduct of the flower festival, foreign tourists especially the Americans will be enticed to visit and contribute in improving the growth of the local tourism industry.
He said because of the city’s “natural air conditioning,” he might be spending more time in Baguio attending to important concerns rather than in the US embassy in Metro Manila.
The grand street dancing parade Saturday is one of the major highlights of the annual Panagbenga which is now on its 20 year. Several contingents from the elementary, secondary, college and open categories will compete by showcasing their dance steps with the inter-play of flowers and recyclable materials to remind the people of their individual responsibility to preserve and protect the environment.
Some nine elementary, four high school and three open category contingents joined this year’s finals for the grand street dancing competition that lasted for around three hours along the 7-kilometer parade route from Upper Session Road with its junction with South Drive, Loakan Road and Military Cut-off up to the Baguio Athletic Bowl.
The US ambassador expressed his gratitude to the people, officials and visitors for their warm welcome that contributed in making his stay in the city over the past several days a wonderful and fruitful.
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