BACK TO BACK CHAMP. Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez and Governor Lilia Pineda present the cash check to 2011 Giant Lantern Festival (GLF) champion Barangay Sta. Lucia Chairman Herman Quiwa during the awarding rites.
With him are Bais City Mayor Karen Villanueva, BM Fritzie Dizon and GLF Executive Committe Chairman Alfritoh Mah. Story on page 5. Contributed photo
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – “It’s a celebration of Kapampangan’s great craftsmanship.”
Thus said Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda in the dialect as she expressed admiration over the 10 giant lanterns which competed at the Giant Lantern Festival here on December 17.
Pineda said the provincial government will sponsor a series of road show in Pampanga to showcase the lanterns, including the entry of Barangay Sta. Lucia which won first place for the second straight year.
“We will let the people see the greatness our lantern makers and at the same time provide an ambience of a meaningful Yuletide celebration for the whole family,” said Pineda, who joined Mayor Oscar Rodriguez and US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. in watching the lanterns amazed at least 10,000 spectators at the Robinsons Starmills here.
Rodriguez said Pineda and Thomas “were obviously impressed.”
He had instructed City Administrator Fer Caylao to coordinate with the governor’s office for planned exhibitions of the giant lanterns in the province, including at the Clark Freeport.
Rodriguez disclosed that the schedules of the lanterns “are tight until January 5.” They are set to be exhibited at the Marquee Mall in Angeles City and at the Essel Park Subdivision in Telabastagan, here, among others.
Pineda said she had coordinated with Clark Development Corp. (CDC) President and CEO Felipe Antonio Remollo for the exhibition of the lanterns at the Clark Parade Ground.
“It’s a good idea,” said Remollo in a text message after he was asked about the plan of the first-term governor.
Pineda and Remollo will invite some of the more than 400 locators at Clark.
“The lantern show will convince the firms at Clark to buy lanterns made in San Fernando,” she said.
The city government said the lantern industry is thriving in at least 13 barangays here, notably in Sta. Lucia and Dolores.
City Tourism Office Head Ching Pangilinan said that in the history of lantern-making in San Fernando, only the martial rule imposed by the late President Marcos stopped the festival in 1978 and 1979. Even Mt. Pinatubo’s deadly eruptions in June 1991 failed to stop them from holding the event in December that year, she added.
The entries of San Jose and Del Carmen bagged the second and third places, respectively.
There were 10 judges, including Bais City Mayor Karen Villanueva and Ambassador Xenia Stefanidou, Greece envoy to the Philippines.
