By: Jenny Bentres, Beca May Pidlao-Palitayan
February 1, 2025, marked the grand opening of the 29th year of the celebration of the world-wide known flower festival “Panagbenga Festival” in the City of Baguio, with the theme “Blossom Beyond Boundaries”. In line with this, the Baguio Central University Criminology Interns actively participated in the said festival and took part as crowd control and safety force multipliers at the Melvin Jones Grounds where the parade ended and programs or activities took place. Before the event started, the criminology interns had an accounting together with the PNP officers for the delegation of instructions and assigning of post areas. The parade started at 9 o’clock in the morning and ended at 12 noon. When the program had ended, the criminology interns conducted an accounting together with the Sector 5 Supervisor PMAJ Alvin Lee Belagan Alinao with the assistance of Sector 5 Assistant Supervisor PMAJ Roger Kurt Lutero Pacificar. On the opening day, the Criminology interns reported no incidents, as attendance at the Melvin Jones Grandstand remained low.
The Grand Street Parade of the Panagbenga Festival is scheduled for February 22, 2025, featuring performances from students, Baguio locals, and visiting artists. During the event, participants showcase their talents in both the street parade and the ground performance at the Melvin Jones Grandstand. As part of their assigned duties, Criminology interns began the day with an accounting session alongside PNP officers for delegation of instructions and post assignments. The parade commenced at 7:00 AM and concluded at 10:00 AM, followed by the Ground Dance Competition at the Melvin Jones Grandstand, which featured five participating groups.
That day proved to be the most challenging for the Criminology interns, as they took on multiple roles beyond crowd control and safety management. In addition to their primary responsibilities, they also assisted as medical support personnel. While observing the performances, they witnessed multiple performers collapsing immediately after their routines. With several individuals fainting simultaneously, the interns had to respond swiftly to prevent panic among the crowd. They played a crucial role in assisting the affected performers, ensuring they received immediate aid and helping them recover so the program could proceed smoothly.
The program concluded at 1:00 PM, after which the Criminology interns conducted an accounting with the PNP officers. The officers recognized and expressed their gratitude to the interns for their contributions to the day’s successful operations. They also provided instructions for the interns to prepare for their next assignment during the Grand Float Parade.
The Grand Floral Float Parade of the Panagbenga Festival was set on February 23, 2025, featuring 44 floral floats, both large and small, traveling from Session Road to the Melvin Jones Grandstand. As part of their duties, the Criminology interns began the day with an accounting session with the PNP officers for instruction delegation and post assignments. The parade commenced at 7:00 AM and concluded at 2:00 PM.
The final day of crowd control duty for the Criminology interns was also their longest deployment. They maintained their assigned posts from the beginning of the parade until the last float was parked, ensuring order throughout the event. Their responsibilities extended through the final judging and continued until the floats were officially opened to the public.
Their participation was also posted by DZWT 540 AM – Radyo Totoo, a local radio station in Baguio City.
The Criminology interns of Baguio Central University – Class Bagsik Lahi Batch 2024-2025 played a vital role in ensuring order and safety during the Panagbenga Festival. Despite being challenged by the long hours of duty, sleepless nights, and physical exhaustion, criminology interns embraced the opportunity to be part of the globally recognized Flower Festival.
Through their participation, they gained firsthand experience in crowd control and public safety while fostering connections with authorities, residents, and visitors. Their involvement contributed to the overall success of the event, marking a significant step in their journey toward their future careers. This experience serves as a milestone in their training, preparing them for greater responsibilities ahead.
Mabuhay, College of Criminal Justice Education!