THE CHAMP. GLF Chair Castro, Mayor Edwin Santiago, Vice Mayor Lazatin and Tess Laus pose with the creative team behind the winning parol.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JUN JASO, PIO PAMPANGA
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Last year’s frustrating finish at second spot provided the spark of inspired genius
that made victory much, much sweeter for Barangay Telabastagan in the 2013 Giant Lantern Festival (GLF) last Saturday at Robinson’s Starmills here.
So spoke the barangay’s parol patron, Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin, recalling too the same heartbreaking finish in
2009 that precluded a grandslam for Telabastagan which bagged the 2007 and 2008 editions of the “ligligan” (contest).
This year, Telabastagan cannot be denied yet another shot at the top. The creative team of chief lantern maker Arnel Flores, head electrician Alberto Dungca and rotor maker Arnold Flores devised to perfection the so-called “half-half secret play” of 12,000 bulbs sparked by 10 rotors in a spectacular display of interchanging half white,
half kaleidoscope of colors that danced to music and later to the accompaniment of the Lumanog brass band.
One grand exposition, and explosion, of colors that dazzled the crowd of over 20,000 and as well as the panel of
judges composed of Ambassadors Josef Rychtar (Czech Republic), Ivo Sieber (Switzerland) and Maj. Gen. John Gomes (Bangladesh), Japanese embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Tetsuro Amano, Clark International Airport Corp. President-CEO Victor Jose Luciano, Town and Country Magazine editor-in-chief Yvette Fernandez, Hiblocks International Architect Edwin Gallardo, Benedictine monk and former fashion designer Dom Martin Gomez, UST Regent Fr. Romulo Rodriguez, fashion maven Dita Sandico- Ong and foremost artist Eduardo Mutuc.
“Months of design studies, experimentation and hard work did it for us,” Flores said with Telabastagan taking the P120,000 cash prize, the “rotating” trophy designed by distinguished artist Toym Imao and the “bragging rights” that goes with the championship for the whole year.
With the parol being the very icon of the city, and the giant lantern fest its signature festival, the champion in the
yearly fest assumes the supreme accolade of the citizenry. Notwithstanding, or rather because, of the prevalence of master lantern craftsmen here whose creations are by no means push-overs in the contest.
In the edition just past, runner-up Barangay Del Carmen’s entry is the work of maestro Erning Quiwa, and adhered to the patented “Parul Sampernandu” template. As spectacular were third placer Barangay Sta. Lucia, and the other entries from Barangays San Jose, Calulut, San Pedro, last year’s champion Del Pilar, San Juan, San Nicolas and Dolores.
Nurturing history
“Nurturing 105 years of history, warranting the continuity of a beautiful tradition for posterity,” said GLF 2013 Executive Committee Chairman Marni Castro of the “ligligan.” Castro thanked the participating barangays and the “gifted artisans and technicians who toil to create lanterns unequalled around the globe” for the “promotion and preservation of our world-renowned lantern heritage and tradition.”
Castro who also serves as the city’s “flood czar” added: “The message of the festival and the giant lanterns extends to sending a message bigger than itself. In what may seem as the darkest hours for the Philippines, let the light of solidarity as a people shine so bright and bring a powerful message of hope to our disaster- stricken co-Filipinos in the Visayas. Inspired by our world-class giant lanterns, let us dance to the same beat of nationhood, to the same song of hope, in the different colors and kaleidoscope of unity in diversity. Let us celebrate God’s faithfulness in the midst of tragedy and shine as one.”
After Saturday’s main competition, the exhibition of the giant lanterns will continue from December 15 to 21 at Robinsons Starmills; December 22 at Essel Park in Barangay Telabastagan; December 23 at Greenfields, Barangay Sindalan; December 24 at the city proper; December 28 and 29 at MarQuee Mall in Angeles City; and back to Robinsons Starmills until January 3, 2014.
