BALER, Aurora (PIA) — Seventeen schools in Aurora filled the streets of Baler with vibrant lanterns, each crafted to celebrate creativity, unity, and the community’s enduring Christmas spirit.
The Akkaw Pailaw Lantern Parade featured handmade lanterns made from recyclable materials such as plastic bottles, caps, old papers, cartons, and used CDs, demonstrating the students’ ingenuity and growing awareness of environmental stewardship.
Vice Mayor Denise Alyanna Angara said the parade offers young people a meaningful space to express their skills and imagination, stressing that activities like this help strengthen their confidence and deepen their involvement in community-building efforts.
She added that Akkaw Pailaw has become a symbol of Baler’s resilience and shared purpose, underscoring how unity continues to guide residents as they face challenges and celebrate milestones together.
Baler’s Committee on Tourism, Culture, and Arts Chairperson Julius Ceazar Grefalda said the students’ lanterns reflect not only their artistic talent but also their commitment to preserving local culture and practicing environmental responsibility.
He emphasized that the parade highlights both the visual creativity of the lantern displays and the collective spirit that traditions like Akkaw Pailaw continue to foster among families and the wider community.
This year marks the second staging of the lantern parade in Baler, further strengthening the town’s efforts to celebrate culture, empower its youth, and sustain local traditions.
The parade is expected to encourage greater appreciation of local culture, motivating young people to take a more active role in preserving and renewing Baler’s traditions.
(CLJD/MJRD, PIA Region 3-Aurora)
