Puerto Princesa is abuzz with celebration as it marks its 152nd Founding Anniversary alongside the 20th Balayong Festival on March 4, 2024. The celebration started with a Holy Mass at Immaculate Conception Cathedral 6:00 o'clock in the morning, followed by a parade from Baltan Street to Puerto Princesa City Baywalk that was graced by the active participation of DENR-PENRO Palawan personnel, CENRO Puerto Princesa, Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, different city and barangay officials, employees, government and non-government organizations, students from various schools and colleges, Western Command and other AFP branches, and other Princesans who wanted to take part in the vibrant and lively celebration wearing their different creative headdresses. 

Among the spirited participants were the DENR-PENRO Palawan personnel, including 15 men and 49 women, who showcased cherry blossom-inspired floral headdresses spearheaded by PENR Officer Felizardo B. Cayatoc, MSD OIC Chief Wamalayda Talabucon, MES Chief Arnel Gamutia, and RPS Chief Jimmy Villareal. 

Puerto Princesa City was founded on March 4, 1872, by the Spanish colonizers who settled here in the course of their exploration of the province. Every March 4 of every year was declared a special non-working holiday under Republic Act No. 7684, "An Act Declaring March 4 of Every Year a Special Non-Working Holiday in the City of Puerto Princesa City, Province of Palawan," approved by the late President Fidel V. Ramos. It commemorates the city's foundation day and promotes community support for development goals and cultural progress.

Further, the 1st Balayong Festival, initiated in 2005 by the Puerto Princesa City government to revive the Palawan Cherry's forlorn splendor, further enriches the city's cultural landscape by planting thousands of trees, with March 4 designated as its official celebration day through Ordinance No. 288 on October 28, 2005, which also founding anniversary of the city of Puerto Princesa.