Comments from the viewers included text messages and telephone calls pointing out that San Fernando is not the Christmas Capital but the Lantern Capital of the Philippines. Cavite daw is Christmas Capital, but apparently this is a more recent promotional move from some politicians in that province. Las Pinas daw is the Lantern Capital. Maybe San Fernando is either or neither. And now that I remember Tangub City claims to be the Christmas Symbols Capital of the Philippines.
Las Pinas City also has a bustling lantern industry, but their trademark is the star – shaped bamboo lantern that is usually monochromatic. Cavite, being a coastal province, finds it easier to manufacture capiz lanterns. But San Fernando has the talent and skill that redefined the form and meaning of a lantern.
Where else in the world could we find lanterns as multi-colored and dynamic as those in San Fernando? Our lantern making tradition has evolved to not only gigantic proportions but to a kaleidoscopic fusion of light and sound.
Where else could we find an infrastructure that is inspired by and literally shaped like a lantern but in Paskuhan Village? Paskuhan was inaugurated in the early nineties, 1990 I believe, by then Governor Bren Guaio with President Cory Aquino to be the first Christmas Village in Asia and the third of its kind in the world. It was designed to be a place where you could go any day and feel like it’s a pinoy Christmas the whole year round. It was designed by one of San Fernando’s most outstanding architects, Archt. Nestor Mangio. While it is no fault of the structure that its function has changed so profusely in the past decade or so, Paskuhan has already made its mark in the consciousness of the people and is a known landmark in the province.
Where else could we find the most talented lantern makers who get to showcase their craft here and abroad but in San Fernando? Our lantern makers have been invited to exhibit their works in Europe, the United States, and some parts of Asia, and have represented the country in some international lantern exhibitions. One of the characteristics that our lantern makers share is their passion for this craft as part of our cultural traditions. When it comes to making San Fernando lanterns, they follow basic design concepts that are distinct to our culture, as typified by the local words they use to describe each part of the lantern.
Every Fernandino of my generation must have grown up knowing that our hometown is the Christmas Capital. These days at the City Government we still use the title in our salutations, brochures, postcards and other promotional materials. For our One Town One Product campaigns we sometimes use Lantern Capital to be more focused on the Parul Sampernandu.
Whether we are Christmas Capital or Lantern Capital, it does not really matter what the title is. What is important is for our local Christmas traditions to endure as they give meaning to our collective life as a people.
