How to Survive Panagbenga: Practical Tips for the Smart Tourist

The first thing you should check during your stay is the weather in Baguio. The temperature will range from 15 degrees to 20 degrees Celsius, but remember that temperatures can drop lower especially in the early morning and late evening.

Your clothes should keep you warm but not too hot. The best approach is to layer your clothes so that when it gets warmer, you can just take off some of the layers. Depending on where you are located, it is also best that you wear clothes that are not too tight. You may end up sitting on the side of the street (along Session Road) for most of the spectacle.

The parade usually starts at 8:00 AM and lasts until noontime, so an umbrella, a sun hat, or sunglasses would come in handy when you are under the mid-morning sun.

You can avoid being hungry by bringing snacks such as biscuits, crackers, and other non-messy food items. Hydrate with lots of drinking water—you may not feel hot and sweaty at any given moment because of the weather, but you will still need your water.

On any vacation, it’s always a good idea to know where the nearest comfort room is. If you are along Session, it may mean finding the nearest restaurant where you can enter. Along Upper Session Road, the Caltex station has CR facilities as well.

Baguio, like any other city, is struggling with its waste management, so every bit of help from visitors and residents counts. Don’t leave your garbage anywhere along Session Road, or any other public road for that matter. Bring a large disposable plastic bag where you can gather all your waste (food containers, candy wrappers, etc.) and find the nearest garbage bin where you can properly dispose of it. Let us do our share to help maintain Baguio’s cleanliness.

Chances are you will come equipped with your smartphones, digital cameras, and/or other gadgets. And because crowds are a favorite spot for pickpockets and thieves, one cannot emphasize enough how important it is to safeguard your gadgets and other personal belongings.

Need more nifty travel tips like these? Go to Yoorekka!

Although major city roads might not be as clogged as previous years, it pays if you’re prepared to walk. Armed with a Google Maps view of the streets, figure out how you can get from Session Road to your next destination. Also, plot out the walking route back to your hotel so you can go back to the hotel easily.

These survival tips will surely make your Panagbenga experience a more pleasant and stress-free one. Above all, remember to take things in stride and just enjoy each moment at the festival.