Mabini Elementary tops Panagbenga 2026 Drum and Lyre

BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 28, 2026) — Mabini Elementary School emerged as champion in the Drum and Lyre competition of the Panagbenga Festival 2026 Grand Street Dance Parade on Saturday, captivating judges with a culturally rich performance inspired by an Apayao legend.

The Baguio City-based school delivered a disciplined and musically tight presentation along Session Road, combining precise drum cadences, synchronized lyre movements and cohesive formations that drew strong applause from festival spectators.

Named first runner-up was El Tribu d’ Lucban, while Tuba Central School Drum and Lyre Corps placed second runner-up.

Mabini Elementary’s championship concept centered on the legend of Binusilan from Apayao.

The narrative tells of a celestial woman who descended to earth carrying a sacred banga filled with life-giving water and a salapay at her side.

She was joined by two women — one bearing a sustaining flame symbolizing courage and warmth, and another carrying a sacred rose representing life and quiet strength.

Through symbolic props and rhythmic precision, performers portrayed how Binusilan and her companions nurtured the land, protected women and restored balance before returning to the heavens, leaving behind enduring emblems of care, fertility and resilience.

Judges cited strong musical execution, thematic clarity and disciplined ensemble performance as key factors in Mabini Elementary’s victory.

Panagbenga, known as the “Season of Blooming,” annually transforms Baguio City into a showcase of floral floats, cultural exhibitions and competitive performances, drawing school-based contingents from across Luzon.

For Mabini Elementary School, the win marks a standout achievement on its home ground — pairing musical excellence with a tribute to the cultural heritage of Apayao.