One of the most anticipated grandest and one-a-kind festivals and competitions in the world is set to return this coming month of December with bigger funding and prize money for those who will take home the grand prize.
The City of San Fernando in the province of Pampanga colloquially referred to as “The Christmas Capital of the Philippines,” is widely known for hosting and the birthplace of the Giant Lantern Festival or Ligligang Parul, a traditional annual competition held every Christmas season, in creating a Giant Lantern that will be partaken by the different Lantern makers of each barangay of the City of San Fernando hoping to win the title of the best giant lantern of the year.
It’s a way of showing the culture, resiliency, and creativity that are deeply rooted in every Fernandinos.
The Return of the Giant Lantern Festival 2022
The Ligligang Parul is the biggest, brightest, and most colorful event in the Philippines during the Christmas season.
After two consecutive years of not hosting the competition, this year’s Giant Lantern Festival on its 114th edition is one of the most awaited events in the town that will be held in Robinson Starmills Pampanga on December 17, 2022.
As the annual festival resumes its activity this year, the town is hoping for more locals and tourist spectators to visit the town and help the town’s tourism. The mall’s grounds can accommodate 30,000 visitors which was also confirmed by the city tourism office.
After the competition, the Giant Lanterns will be displayed on December 18 up until January 3, 2023.
The Giant Lanterns will be exhibited at Robinsons Starmills Pampanga for two consecutive days before displaying it on other parts of Pampanga.
The lanterns will be then transported to the patio of the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando on December 23, where they will stay there until Christmas Day. Then, it will be moved to different villages for display until January 3.
Barangays to Compete in the 2022’s Giant Lantern Festival
The upcoming Giant Lantern Festival 2022 will be a lot more exciting than the previous years because there will be officially 10 barangays of the City of San Fernando who will be joining the competition in the festival.
The ten competing barangays are Bulaon, Calulut, Del Pilar, Dolores, Pandaras, San Juan, San Nicolas, Sta. Lucia, Sto. Niño, and Telabastagan — all are preparing and expecting to win the grand prize of the competition.
Expect some surprises in every colorful Giant Lantern created by each barangay.
The prize money for this year’s Giant Lantern is also surprising as the number of grand prizes doubles compared to the previous Giant Lantern Festival.
The first, second, and third placers will take home the following prize money respectively—P300,000, P200,000, and P100,000 in prizes in terms of designs, light patterns, and in sync with the music.
Giant Lantern Festival 2021
The competition for the 2021’s Giant Lantern Festival was put off due to the Covid-19 pandemic however, despite all of that, seven barangays namely Sto. Niño, San Juan, San Nicolas, Sta. Lucia, Bulaon, Telabastagan, and Calulut contributed and showcased their crafted parols that were held at Robinson Starmills Pampanga last December 16.
2021’s Giant Lantern Festival was digitally launched two years in a row through their local media partner- CLTV36. The festival was also streamed live on the official Facebook page of Robinson Starmills Pampanga.
QR codes were given and assigned to each vehicle for contactless drive-in and parking slots to ensure that everyone who personally went to the festival observed the event’s proper safety and health protocol.
The Giant Lantern that participated in the 2021 Giant Lantern Festival was exhibited on the Robinson Starmills Pampanga last December 16-30 and on the 1st and 2nd of January, the giant lanterns were displayed outside the mall at the back of the parking area of Robison Starmills.
Giant Lantern Festival’s Hall of Famers
For almost a decade long, Barangay Del Pilar still holds the record of the longest depending champion in making Giant Lanterns in Pampanga for 9 consecutive years.
They were proclaimed the Best Giant Lantern of the Year in the year 1983-1991. They also won either 1st or 2nd place in the festivals.
On the other hand, Barangay Dolores managed to win the competition for 4 consecutive years starting 2014 – 2017.
Barangay Santa Lucia also emerged as the overall champion for 3 years from 2010-2011 and in 2019.
Barangay Telabastagan won 2 consecutive years from 2007-2008. They also won third place in the Giant Lantern Festival held in 2012.
Giant Lantern Festival and its History
Historically, Lantern was first introduced through La Naval Fiesta where lanterns were illuminated as a way of declaring victory in a battle. Not long after that, in 1904, Pampanga’s capital was moved to San Fernando from Bacolor where the said festival officially began. Some accounts claimed that it was only after 1908 that it was officially launched.
The pioneer of the modern-day Ligligang Parul was a part of a religious activity that everyone recognized as “Lubenas,” a 9-days novena before December 25, which overlapped with the Simbang Gabi. Over the years, the tradition developed as the lanterns that were made became much bigger and more complex.
When electricity was used for the very first time in the City of San Fernando in 1931, the tradition of making lanterns progressed and developed into a much bigger and more modernistic version- the famous festival was first commemorated in that same year as a mark of respect of the late President Quezon and his family which is now an annual celebration of San Fernando.
In the years that followed, more modernizations were introduced to giant lanterns. Colored plastics substituted the traditional papel de hapon. Colored plastics were still used by some lantern makers up until 2010, wherein fiberglass and handmade paper were used to make the giant lantern.
How to get to Robison Starmill Pampanga?
Wondering how to get to Robison Starmills Pampanga?
Robinson Starmills is situated at Barangay San Jose in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. For those within Pampanga, it’s much more accessible to commuters as they can be dropped off right at the mall’s entrance by jeepneys with various destinations in Pampanga.
A bus terminal is also located near the mall, which is used by Victory Liner passenger buses from Pasay, Manila, Cubao, Tarlac, Tuguegarao, Olongapo, and Baguio, as well as by other bus companies with routes in the northern provinces.
With the completely operational NLEX, Robinsons Starmills Pampanga is just less than half an hour away from Balintawak and Mindanao Ave. in Quezon City considering if there’s a small chance of traffic along the way.
You can also refer to some travel destination apps that can help you find the best possible with step-by-step directions, whenever you are to get to Robinson Starmills Pampanga.
Robinsons Starmills Pampanga Map
Traveling to Pampanga for the first time
As a first-time traveler, it could be nerve-wracking to travel to a place for the first time, it doesn’t matter whether you’re alone or not. Before traveling to Pampanga to watch the Giant Lantern Festival, you should research the place that you will go to. It’s one of the best options for you to familiarize the place even if you still haven’t visited the place. In also that way, you will know what to see, where to go, and what to eat.
Second, bring enough money for your travel fair, food, or other things that you would like to buy. Food can be expensive, especially in malls. It will be better if you plan your spending budget. To prevent overspending, you can also bring your food and water bottle to save up a bit of your budget.
Third, avoid showing your personal and valuable items in Public. Anywhere you go, it’s best not to show off or display all the expensive things that might put you in a disadvantageous manner. Mainly, you’ll be watching the Ligligan Parul 2022 with a large crowd. Only bring what’s important during the day and nothing else. Be always vigilant.
Lastly, be respectful. Respect is something we all should learn. Learning how to respect the culture of the place you go will all help you survive the place even for a day. Like other places, Pampanga has its own culture. It’s also a good way to search what are the things we can do and the things we should not do. The best way to enjoy the place is when we are at peace.
For more details, please visit the official page of the Giant Lantern Festival on Facebook.
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