Monday, December 22, 2008 Telabastagan is 'Ligligan Parul' back-to-back champ By Jovi T. De Leon
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Barangay Telabastagan once again became the Giant Lantern Festival (GLF) back-to-back champion after besting eight other entries in this year's centennial celebration of the world renowned "Ligligan Parul."
But it seemed not too easy with the grand champ to run away with the P100,000 first prize and the giant trophy as true to their word, the city's competing lantern designers and craftsmen, showed off "super intricate designs" and revealed amazing and astonishing "secret and surprise plays" seen for the first time in the festival's history dating back to 1908.
Not to be outdone though and proving once more its mettle as the festival's top pick last year, Arnel Flores and his crew of electricians and rotor operators took on round one (solo display) with their "Peace" theme bannered by a Nativity scene at the lantern's center, after the preceding and "threatening" display of dazzling colors and tricks from strong contender Barangay Del Pilar whose entry was crafted by top lantern maker Roland Quiambao.
Quiambao and his team romped off with the P50,000 second prize with its "Parul ning Kapampangan, Parul Pagmaragul" and "One World in Peace" theme endowed with twinkling stars all over the lantern and culminated by the release of doves and balloons after its performance.
Barangay San Nicolas, its giant lantern designed by Edwin David Jr., came in close third with its "Pasko Na" theme, with a kaleidoscope of lights and colors working in synch with the music that made it "dance" and move to a pulsating beat.
Most of the nine participating barangays in last Saturday night's "grandest ever" festival and competition played originally composed Kapampangan songs and music that made the GLF all the more festive and exciting.
The competition went through three rounds, the individual display started by Barangay San Jose with its "Kapayapaan" theme, then San Nicolas, followed by San Pedro's 'Key to Heaven' entry, Del Pilar, telabastagan, San Juan, Sto. Niño's 'Sacred Heart' lantern, Dolores's City of San Fernando logo lantern design and Sta. Lucia's three-layered giant lantern with a Christmas tree, a main lantern, plus a two-panel Christmas card that opens and closes.
Round two saw the competitors in groups of three simultaneously working their lanterns to canned music.
The third round, with all the lanterns switched on, proved to be more difficult as the participants had to play and "drive" their rotors to a surprise tune played by a brass band.
Some members of the GLF board of judges, composed of public officials, diplomats, career professionals and businessmen, said they really had a hard time picking the winners from the nine entries despite the three rounds.
"It was really difficult because all the giant lanterns this year are equally beautiful and amazing. But we had to make our choice. But for us, they are all winners and worthy of praise and emulation," they said.
This year's GLF board of judges was composed of Regional Director Police Chief Superintendent Leon Nilo dela Cruz, Prof. JC Gallard, lawyer Darwin Reyes, Chichos Luciano, doctors Joachim Benitez and Ramon Roque, Rey David, Carolyn Atkinson, Yoshito Morita, Lief Nielsen, Bambi Harper and Dominador Gamboa.
The adjudged winners and participants, together with their respective barangay captains, chief electricians and rotor operators were handed bronze trophies (designed by renowned sculptor Tony Imaw whose mother is a Kapampangan) by the GLF committee led by Mayor Oscar Rodriguez and Coritho Panlilio-Lim, together with Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio.
Centennial awards were given to barangays Sta. Lucia and del Pilar for "not failing to field a giant lantern since 1936," while 95-year-old wheelchair bound Rufino Salas, the oldest surviving lantern maker in the province, received P10,000 and a special citation for his contributions in uplifting the lantern industry and bringing the annual GLF to its fore.
After last Saturday's main competition, the giant lanterns will make exhibitions in Telabastagan, Greenfields and the city proper on December 24 after the midnight mass before returning to Robinsons Starmills here where they will be on display until January.
A GLF organizer, who asked not be named, said they estimated the crowd of spectators to peak at 20,000 during the four-hour Ligligan Parul.
The venue of the annual crowd-drawer was moved by officials and members of the GLF committee to Robinsons Starmills after regular sponsor and venue provider SM City Pampanga allegedly failed to outbid the Gokongwei-operated mall for this year's hosting of the festival.
The GLF was broadcast live by the Laus Group of Companies-owned Central Luzon TV 36.
Some of the people in the crowd said they were simply "mesmerized" by this year's GLF.
"It was worth our trip," said Geoff Schoesner, a freelance German writer who came with his Filipina wife and friends. "I got it all in video here which I will show to my colleagues in Munich. It's my first time to see this and nothing in the world would really compare to what I just saw. Filipinos are really creative and ingenious."
A group of Korean students from Angeles City, who said they just came from their homeland, said albeit in barely understandable English, "It is awesome. Wonderful!"
Vennie Trinidad, 52, came with a busload of his relatives and friends from Cabanatuan City and said: "Your lanterns are really unique. They are beautiful and our going here tonight is well worth it."
But even with such a huge crowd, police officers at the venue reported no untoward incident. A ground commander said they have really tightened security because many foreigners, diplomats, dignitaries and "important people" attended the festival.
