BORONGAN CITY (PIA) -- The "5th Lamrag Giant Lanterns Festival 2022" in Can-avid, Eastern Samar reopened on the evening of December 9 at the town's Great Park with big prizes at stake and more colorful decorations.
In a short program, Municipal Mayor Vilma Germino of Can-avid spearheaded the switch-on ceremony of the 28 giant lanterns and, after the lanterns were lit, Can-avidnons rejoiced for they were all beautiful and colorful to see.
Mayor Germino said that the 28 giant lanterns were made by 28 barangays in the said municipality.
Germino said the said giant lanterns festival is a competition based on the innovativeness and creativity of Can-avidnons as they used recyclable materials to make beautiful and colorful Christmas lanterns.
In her short message, Mayor Germino said the lanterns symbolized the unity and cooperation of Can-avidnons.
She added that she supported and continued this activity of the late Mayor Toytoy Germino which started in 2016.
She further said that the said event was stopped due to the restrictions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic particularly in 2020-2021.
Mayor Germino thanked the big prize donors: Rep. Ma. Fe R. Abunda for the 1st Prize of P150,000; 4PS Partylist Rep. Marcelino C. Libanan for the Second Prize of P100,000; and Gov. Ben P. Evardone for the 3rd Prize of P70,000.
Aside from the cash prizes, the top three winners will also receive projects from the local government unit of Can-avid in the amount of P150,000, P100,000, and P70,000, respectively.
The 25 non-winning barangays will also receive cash prizes of P10,000 each and P10,000 worth of projects from the LGU.
Meanwhile, according to Municipal Affairs Coordinator Sebastian "Baste" F. Pomarejos, the entries will be judged for three basis which started December 9 during the switch-on ceremony, the second judging will be on December 16, and the third judging will be on December 27 following the criteria: lighting (50%), creativity (20%), recyclable materials used (30%).
The first judging, which was conducted on December 9, was only 30% of the total points; 40% on December 16; and 30% during the final judging which will be on December 27.
The announcement of winners will be on December 29, Pomarejos said.
Pomarehos appealed to all Estehanons, and the people of Eastern Visayas to visit and see "5th Giant Lanterns Festival" in Can-avid, Eastern Samar which will end on January 2023.
Present during the ceremonial switch-on were representantives of Party-list Rep. Libanan -- Ma. Estela Mariss Libanan and Elda Libanan; Taft Mayor Gina Ty, Dolores Mayor Rodrigo 'Onoy' Rivera, representative of Borongan City Mayor Dayan Agda; City Administrator Celestino Cabato, DOT-8 Consultant Toto Cinco, Regional Artist Ernesto Guarino; Provincial Tourism Officer Neil Alejandro Pinarok; Borongan City Tourism Officer Marissa Acorin; other tourism officers of different municipalities, municipal officials and barangay officials of Can-avid. (MMP/SDC/PIA Eastern Samar)
