The Giant Lantern Festival is a colorful display of lights and tradition
On Saturday, December 16, the Giant Lantern Festival 2023 in San Fernando, Pampanga officially kicked off the festive holiday celebrations in the city. Ten giant parols or Christmas lanterns line a portion of the open parking lot of Robinsons Starmills. The lanterns display beautiful patterns in different colors, giant versions of the twinkling parols Pinoy households hang on their houses.
The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation invited a select group of media to witness the event, which celebrates the Christmas season and a beautiful San Fernando tradition.
The annual festival honors the more than a century old parol-making tradition in San Fernando. The city is known for its parol industry that produces Christmas lanterns in different shapes and sizes, made of colorful paper, capiz, or plastic.
The first day of celebrations opened with the giant lantern competition. A total of 10 barangays participated with barangay Telabastagan being hailed as this year's champion. Barangay San Nicolas and barangay San Juan placed second and third, respectively.
The giant parols of barangays (from left) San Nicolas, Calulut, Dolores, and Bulaon / Source: Angelo Garcia
The giant lanterns are at least 20 feet in diameter and are operated manually using rotors or large steel barrels.
In the competition, the lanterns were judged based on design, creativity, and how the twinkling lights synchronize with the chosen music. This year's competition, the competitors used traditional Christmas music combined with either songs popularized by TikTok, K-pop groups, and TV shows. In fact, three barangays used the theme song of the anime show Voltes V, which became popular again this year because of the hit GMA Network series Voltes V: Legacy.
For those planning to visit the giant lanterns, there will be a nightly exhibit on the following dates: December 17 to 23, 25 to 30, and January 1, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
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