CITY OF SAN FERNANDO The 114th edition of the world renowned "Ligligan Parul" or Giant Lantern Festival (GLF) in the City of San Fernando promises to be brighter and more competitive as 10 entries take center stage on December 17, 2022 before a now face-to-face crowd expected to gather at a mall in this city.
More competitive, as the City Government headed by Mayor Vilma Caluag and the GLF Foundation, Inc. upped the subsidy for participating barangays as well as the prizes to further boost Pampanga's solid reputation and excellence in the craft, a testament that San Fernando is indeed the Christmas Capital of the Philippines.
During the formal presentation of the participating barangays on Friday, Calauag said that the subsidy for participating barangays is now P300,000 each while prizes for the champion is now up from P150,000 to P300,000; the second placer from P100,000 to P200,000; and the third placer from P50,000 to P100,000, aside from the revolving trophy and bragging rights that have accompanied every "ligligan" since its inception.
"We are happy to say that for this year, the bar has been raised so all our giant lantern makers will come out with the best designs. Aside from that, through the City Tourism Office, we assisted our lantern makers all over San Fernando so that we have more jobs and opportunities for them," she said.
Tradition and innovation remain
City Tourism Officer Ching Pangilinan told Sun.Star Pampanga that for this year, like in the past GLF tilts, tradition and innovation will remain for the world to see in the festival that has continuously brought hope and inspiration to millions, pandemic or no crisis at all.
"This year, we go face to face na and were looking at how we can adapt and maintain our health standards and protocols as part of our recovery phase and make our Christmas truly merry. All innovations, apps and even contact tracing will still be there. Innovations in designs will be there. No woman lantern maker this time but LGBTQ Barangay Captrain Edzel Miranda of Pandaras is returning with a team that would be at par from the rest," she said.
This year's "Ligligan Parul" boasts of crews from Barangay Bulaon with lantern maker Florante Parilla; Calulut with Teddy Aguilar; Del Pilar with Efren Tiodin; Dolores with Marcelino Ambrocio; Pandaras with Rolando Ambrocio; San Juan with Mark Nino Flores; San Nicolas with Edmar David; Sta. Lucia with Byron Bondoc; Sto. Nino with Engelbert Bondoc; and Telabastagan with Arnel Flores.
This year's GLF Executive Committee is headed by Ricardo Pineda, chair and co-chairmen Sonia Soto and Engr. Alvin Mendoza.