Thursday, November 30, 2006 Miss Earth 2005 lights up 18-foot giant lantern at Hilaga By Albert B. Lacanlale
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Miss Earth 2005 Alexandra Braun Waldeck recently led the ceremonial lighting of an 18-foot giant lantern to signal the formal launching of the Giant Lantern Festival which is slated on December 16, 2006 at SM City Pampanga.
Waldeck was assisted by Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez, Giant Lantern Festival (GLF) 2006 Executive Committee Chairperson and Arch. Joel J. David, GLF 2006 chairperson.
The ceremonial lighting coincided with the recently concluded Miss Earth 2006 National Costume Competition at the Hilaga (formerly Paskuhan Village).
The event was attended by the top honchos of Carousel Production, Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) officials, Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes, members of the international and national press corps, city government officials and the leading citizens of San Fernando.
After the launching of the Giant Lantern Festival 2006, the 86 Miss Earth candidates paraded before the crowd in their national costumes amidst a background that glittered with San Fernando lanterns.
The City Government presented a special award, Mutya ning Parul San Fernandu, to the candidate adjudged to have a personality as vibrant, dynamic and colorful as the San Fernando lantern. The award was given to Miss Lithuania.
Miss Earth organizers, Carousel Production and the PTA, emphasized the significance of the San Fernando lanterns in Filipino culture, as highlighted by the inclusion of the festival launch in one of the only two Miss Earth events where all the candidates were gathered in one venue.
