Thus said Councilor Jimmy Lazatin who is set to distribute the P100,000 top prize won by back-to-back champion Barangay Telabatagan in the Giant Lantern Festival held last month here.
At least P30,000 will be given to the Telabastagan Pamikalugud Association, Inc.; P30,000 for Arnel Flores, the maker of the giant lantern entry of the barangay to the competiton; P30,000 for Barangay Telabastagan for its various projects; and P10,000 for Sacred Heart Parish Church in the same barangay.
Lazatin, a resident of Telabastagan, said that part of the projects will be used for feeding programs and medical missions here which he initiated together with Mayor Oscar Rodriguez and other city councilors.
“We won because of the people’s support and so whatever the prize is, it should be given back to them,” said Lazatin who is also the head of the committee on education and a member of the city’s tourism and cultural affairs
Telabastagan was adjudged as the winner of the 2008 Giant Lantern Festival against nine other competitors. Last year, it also bagged the top prize against eight competitors.
City officials have also lauded Lazatin’s move.
Ching Pangilinan, the city’s senior tourism officer, said Lazatin’s move will benefit many Fernandinos. “I hope that part of the prize will be used to train new breed of lantern makers.”
She also added that Telabastagan is the only barangay that has a foundation that raises money for its participation in the annual festival.
“It [Telabastagan] has united its people in joining the festival,” she said.
Giant Lantern Festival started in 1908 based on oral accounts, Pangilinan said.
