There is no better place to celebrate the holiday season than in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, which is regarded as the country’s Christmas Capital.
The highlight of the yuletide glee is the annual spectacle of marvelous and kaleidoscopic 20-foot tall gigantic lanterns.
Intricately woven masterpiece
This year marks the 116th edition of the Giant Lantern Festival (GLF), locally known as the “Ligligan Parul”.
The creation of a giant lantern requires resolve and persistence. From its tambor (drum-like inner core), siku-siko (angled parts), palimbun (round shapes located in the edges or rim) to its puntetas (trimmings), every craft is intricately woven to create a masterpiece symbolizing a tradition that stood for more than a century.
They are operated manually through rotors. Electricity is run through wires attached in steel cylinders that are turned by hand to create the harmonization of lights and sounds. It could take a year to build them from scratch and would even cost up to P1 million.
Behind a lantern’s piece lies unparalleled skills and ingenuity. Behind its dance is a village working in harmony. Behind every flicker of its bulbs is a colorful story of a holiday tradition passed on between families.
The city’s lantern makers are proof that blood runs thick when it comes to lantern making, and that there is no word as ‘dying’ in its giant lantern tradition.
Among them is Edmar David of Barangay San Nicolas, a third-generation lantern maker. Started as an apprentice to his father, he has been crafting gigantic lanterns for nearly 23 years now.
David’s giant lantern was awarded as the most beautiful lantern for 2024, his village’s first championship in more than 20 years. The lantern entry, which showcased the eternal love of Jesus, took home P300,000 cash prize and a trophy.
“Ang championship na ‘to, inaalay ko sa kanya [kay tatay] dahil noon panahong siya ‘yung gumagawa, tinuturuan niya ako. Ngayon, ibinabalik ko lang sa kanya ‘yung natutunan ko sa kanya, ngayon nag champion na kami [I dedicate this championship to my father because during that time that he was the one making giant lanterns, he was teaching me. Today, I am just giving back to him through what I learned, and now, we are the champion],” he said.
This is a victory for the David family as Edmar’s siblings, Edwin and Angelica, are his lantern’s head electrician and rotor maker, respectively.
“Every year, kaming magkakapatid, tulung-tulong kami sa diskarte, sa design, color combination, lahat tulung-tulong kami. Pinagsasama namin lahat ng gusto naming ilagay, pinipili namin kung alin ‘yung maganda. Malaking tulong iyon dahil kung hindi sa father naming, hindi naming alam gawin ito [Every year, us siblings, are working together on the strategy, the design, color combination, we are helping each other in everything. We are combining what we want to incorporate, we are choosing what looks good. This is a big help because if not for our father, we would not know how to do this],” he shared.
Meanwhile, Edmar’s father, Edwin, now 78 years old and a second-generation lantern maker, received a recognition from the city for being one of the giant lantern makers who helped in ensuring the survival of the giant lantern-making tradition. Popularly known as “Potpot”, Edwin made lanterns during the 1980s and passed on the craft to his children.
Edmar pledged that as what his father did, he will make sure that he will do his part in the preservation of the tradition by teaching the younger generation.
“Sa mga kabataan sa amin, sa barangay namin lalo na sa mga anak ko rin, ipapasa ko rin ‘yung nalalaman ko sa paggawa ng parol… Every year, nagtuturo kami ng mga kabataan sa barangay namin para at least, at the same time, nagkakatrabaho sila, natututo pa sila [I will share what I learned in making lanterns to the youth in our village, especially to my children. Every year, we are teaching children in our village so that they have something to do, and they learn at the same time],” he said.
Barangay Sto. Niño’s lantern maker, Byron Bondoc, also began his giant lantern making career as a student of his father. Known as the man behind his lanterns’ gimmicks, his entry featured the infinite love of Jesus, and the Holy Family. Byron worked with his brother Leslie as his rotor maker. His lantern entry won as the first runner-up, taking home P200,000 cash prize and a trophy.
Another well-known name in the lantern making industry is the Flores family bannered by Arnel of Barangay Telabastagan. This year, his lantern entry showcased the Holy Rosary and the Philippine flag.
Twinned with the senior Flores’ expertise in making giant lanterns is his power in molding another renowned lantern master. His son, Mark Niño, once known as the youngest giant lantern maker in the city, is the lantern maker of Barangay Bulaon. The younger Flores designed a craft which highlighted the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Barangay Bulaon ended second runner-up with P100,000 and a trophy while Barangay Telabastagan finished third runner-up with P50,000 and a trophy.
Giant Lanterns as symbols of ‘Paskung Fernandino’
The GLF is not just a competition, but a battle between families and a reunion of third or second generation lantern makers – things that lift up the city as the true Home of the Giant Lanterns.
In her message during the festival’s competition night on December 14, Mayor Vilma Caluag highlighted that the giant lantern-making tradition has been serving as a reminder of how our ancestors started the lantern-making practice and how it is now embraced by the generations of today.
“The true stars and symbols of Paskung Fernandino are the lantern makers and their passion and craftsmanship, the barangays and their unwavering support, with the Fernandinos and their unrivaled patronage,” she pressed.
The city’s sparkling giants are being exhibited in different venues. The villages’ crafts are staged at Robinsons Starmills Pampanga from December 14, 2024 to January 1, 2025.
Some lanterns will also be brought to perform in front of the city hall on Christmas Eve, December 24; in the town center in Calulut on December 26-27; and in Marquee Mall in Angeles City on December 28-29.
Filipinos may also watch the performances of the Giant Lanterns at the comfort of their homes through live media coverage via the Facebook Pages of CLTV36, City of San Fernando Information Office, City of San Fernando Tourism Office, Giant Lantern, and PIA Gitnang Luzon.
Just recently, the City of San Fernando has been recognized as the only Southeast Asian destination to make it onto CNN Travel’s list of best places to visit for Christmas this year. It is number five out of 15 destinations. Its rich yuletide tradition has earned it a place among global holiday destinations like cities from Finland, Spain, Germany, and Canada.
Indeed, if one is looking for the most memorable Christmas celebration, Paskung Fernandino is something to experience. (CLJD/JLDC, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)
