Ernesto Quiwa at his factory in Sta. Lucia, City of San Fernando. Photo by Ric Gonzales
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Symbols of Christmas: lights, trees and lanterns. But these lanterns have remained the most popular symbol of the Yuletide season in this city and the rest of Pampanga over the years.
Locally known as Parul San Fernando, its production was started in nearby Bacolor town, the former capital of the province and the country.
In 1904, after the province’s capitol was transferred from Bacolor to San Fernando, the making of lanterns pioneered by Francisco Estanislao went along with it.
Today or more than 100 years later, the lantern making industry prospered in at least 13 barangays, notably in Sta. Lucia and Dolores, said City Administrator Fer Caylao.
King Lantern Maker
Ernesto Quiwa, great grandson of Estanislao, said they had sold more than 8,000 lanterns last year. He added that they could dispose at least 10,000 lanterns until the end of this year despite the economic crisis experienced world-wide over the past few years.
Quiwa said that “at one time, we hired about 200 workers when we had to rush.” But his regular staffers at his factory-house in Sta. Lucia are less than 20.
“Lantern making is not a seasonal thing but a whole year-round industry,” said Quiwa in the dialect.
He thanked Mayor Oscar Rodriguez for always supporting their industry and promoting their lanterns in his trips abroad.
Recently, San Fernando lanterns were displayed in Thailand, Ireland, China and Austria.
Giant Lanterns
According to the timeline of lantern making provided by City Tourism Officer Ching Pangilinan, a giant lantern was displayed in Yokohama, Japan in 1989, launching its popularity in the international scene. Three years later, San Fernando exhibited their products in the World Expo at Seville, Spain.
For over 20 years, the San Fernando lanterns – big and small – have been sold and exhibited in other parts of the world, including USA and Taiwan. This year, these lanterns will delight about 100,000 people at the Robinsons Starmills-San Fernando for the Giant Lantern Festival which is being held annually.
Councilor Jimmy Lazatin on Thursday led the public display of the entry of Barangay Telabastagan. He was behind the back-to-back championship win of Telabastagan in 2008 and 2009.
On Saturday (December 17), 10 competing teams will showcase their giant lanterns which “are brighter and better” compared to the participants last year, said organizers of the festival led by Bong Mah and Tess Laus.
The lantern of depending champion Sta. Lucia was done again this year by Eric Quiwa, son of Ernesto. It will have at least 8,000 bulbs. Another entry will be powered by 10,000 bulbs.
Sta. Lucia will slug it out against barangays Dolores, Sto. Nino, Del Pilar, San Jose, San Juan, Telabastagan, San Pedro and newcomers Calulut and Del Carmen.
At least three ambassadors, national artists and popular figures in the international tourism scene have confirmed to attend as judges of the giant lantern festival, said Pangilinan.
Caylao said some visitors from other nations and Metro Manila have decided to see the 10 lanterns on December 18 to avoid the huge crowd on the day of the competition.
San Fernando has been known as the Christmas Capital of the Philippines. “Thanks to the lanterns proudly done by its local residents,” Caylao said.
