Giant Lantern Festival

“The Dancing Lights of San Fernando”

  

“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.

Oh! What fun it is to run in a one-horse open sleigh. Hey!”

            Oh, how fun it really is to celebrate one of the most important occasions of the year, Christmas. Yes, the red and green socks hanging on the wall, a tall Christmas tree inside each home, the cold breeze rushing through your spine, and of course, the stout old man, all dressed in white and red, who loves to laugh and greet each one of us a “Merry Christmas!”.

There are a lot of must-see places, events, and festivities in San Fernando, Pampanga. One of the best that you could always catch when December comes is the “Giant Lantern Festival” which features a competition of giant lanterns called “Ligligan Parol”.  Because of the popularity of the festival, the city has been nicknamed the "Christmas Capital of the Philippines". The first lantern festival was held to honor President Manuel L. Quezon.

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Oh, your Christmas would not be complete if you would miss this event. The crowded plaza, the loud cheers, the lively music of Christmas songs, and of course the dazzling lights of giant lanterns that ought to fill the night skies with diverse stunning colors. Each lantern is very much unique in its own way; inimitable with its choice of songs, patterns, and choreography that never goes off-beat, a true designer’s pride. Every one of them is illuminated by about 3,500 to 5,000 light bulbs programmed to turn on and off according to the beat. Gigantic parols span an average breadth of 40 feet with an average weight of 1 ton. Each of the lanterns cost P500,000 but the city government subsidized the costs at P125,000.

Different barangays exert their full effort and time so that their parols would bag the grand prize and they could truly be proud of their master pieces. The competitors are defending champions Sta. Lucia, Calulut, Del Carmen, Del Pilar, Dolores, San Jose, San Juan, San Nicolas, San Pedro Cutud, Sto. Niño, and Telabastagan.

The annual event is held every Saturday before Christmas Eve. Last December 2013, the competition took place in Robinsons Star Mills Pampanga. And the Grand winner was Brgy. Telabastagan’s exceptional giant lantern. While, last December 15, 2012, 7:00 pm, Brgy. Del Pilar claimed the Champion trophy and giant check of P 120,000, while Brgy. Telabastagan and San Jose received the P 60,000 and P 40,000 runner-up prizes, respectively.

If you have watched the giant lanterns’ exhibitions at least once, you’re very lucky and blessed. But if not, you should never let your life come to an end without grabbing the chance to experience an unforgettable event in your whole life. Try it. Come and celebrate your Christmas here. It’s more fun in San Fernando.

By: Trisa Mae Lumbang