TEAM TO BEAT. Barangay Sta. Lucia is ready to defend its title as a worker puts one of the 8,900 bulbs of the giant lantern designed by Eric Quiwa. Photo by Ric Gonzales
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – A giant lantern with 10,000 bulbs will compete in the annual festival-contest here participated by 10 villages, organizers of the event said on Monday.
Believed to have started in this capital of the province in 1930, organizers of the Giant Lantern Festival 2011 led by Mayor Oscar Rodriguez said the 10 competing lanterns “are brighter and better” compared to the participants last year. The competition proper is set at the Robinsons Starmills here on December 17.
Defending champion Barangay Sta. Lucia will feature a lantern with at least 8,900 bulbs, said lantern maker Eric Quiwa. He was also the maker of grand champion lantern in 2010.
“Our lantern this year will have a double frame,” said Quiwa when asked by Punto on what to expect from their new entry.
Alfrito Bong Mah, chairperson of the Giant Lantern Festival committee, said at least six lanterns will have new frames. He added that previous entries used “recycled frames.”
The other entries are barangays Dolores, Sto. Nino, Del Pilar, San Jose, San Juan, Telabastagan, San Pedro and newcomers Calulut and Del Carmen. Last year’s runner-up is Dolores.
The city government gave a subsidy of P120,000 for each village. Quiwa said their entry will cost at least P450,000.
Marni Castro, technical chief of the committee, disclosed that the lanterns will have a maximum of 20 meters in diameter.
Rodriguez asked this city’s administrator Fer Caylao to coordinate with Robinsons to prepare for rains that may occur on the day of the competition. The weather bureau said earlier the month of December will be rainy.
“But come hell or high water, it will pushed through as scheduled,” the organizers said.
In a statement, City Tourism Officer Ma. Lourdes Carmella Jade “Chingkit” Pangilinan said the “San Fernando lanterns were made as display at the Cultural Center of the Philippines main façade.” She added that their lanterns were also brought to the Philippine Embassies in Moscow, Russia Bangkok and Thailand.
