CITY OF SAN FERNANDO --- CNN Travel has included the City of San Fernando in Pampanga as one of the best Christmas destinations in Asia and the world.
The list, released by CNN Travel on December 2, showed that the City of San Fernando ranked fifth among the 15 best places to go to this Christmas, after top destinations Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland (dubbed the “official hometown of Santa Claus”); Bogotá, Colombia; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and Bath, England.
“The highlight of a visit [in San Fernando] is the parol, a colorful, electric Christmas lantern that symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem. The parols recall psychedelic kaleidoscopes, brilliant stained glass windows, prismatic pinwheels or oversized snowflakes,” said CNN Travel.
It also cited the upcoming annual Giant Lantern Festival on December 14 at Robinsons Starmills, which will feature 10 barangays vying for the "Ligligan Parul" trophy, cash prize and bragging rights.
If Asia will have a “Christmas capital,” CNN Travel said, "the City of San Fernando is a top nominee."
Other best Christmas places named by CNN Travel are Barcelona, Spain; Nairobi, Kenya; Nuremberg, Germany; Malta; Quebec City, Canada; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Salzburg and Oberndorf, Austria; Strasbourg, France; Queenstown, New Zealand; and New York City.