GLF SUCCESSFUL, RAIN OR SHINE

Photo by: Ovy C. Dizon

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO —The Giant Lantern Festival 2015 or Liligan Parul brightly lit the city last December 19, 2015 at Robinsons Starmills amidst the rainy weather. Fernandinos and tourists weren’t stop from watching the much-awaited annual celebration that gave the city its title “Christmas Capital of the Philippines”.

Hosted by DJ Kian Laxamana of RW 95.1 and City Tourism Officer Ching Pangilinan, the competition proper started with a prayer and national anthem sung by the City Hall of San Fernando Choir, followed by the opening remarks of Engr. Ernesto Cunanan, Chairman of GLF 2015 Executive Committee and City Mayor Edwin Santiago.

“Of all the symbols of yuletide seasons, of Santa Claus and reindeers, snowflakes and snowman, the parul or lantern has become the symbol that makes Christmas distinctly Filipino and Fernandino”, said Mayor Edwin Santiago in showcasing the skills of craftsmen in the past 107 years.

The 11 barangays that competed in 3 rounds were Telebastagan, Sta. Lucia, San Nicolas, San Juan, Dolores, Calulut, Sto. Nino, Del Pilar, San Jose and the two first-timers—Pandaras and Sindalan.

Calulut landed as the 3rd runner up, Sindalan as 2nd runner up and Del Pilar as 1st runner up respectively. The defending champion from last year, Dolores, once again bagged the championship in this year’s festival.