The use of the lanterns was part of the DENR’s information, education and communication campaign for the conservation and protection of environment and natural resources, and serves to highlight the call for collective action to sustain life.
Using indigenous and recycled materials, some of the lanterns’ concepts emphasized wise use of resources, through multiple uses, recycling and reusing. A number provided valuable information, while others reflected the value of water and clean air.
The lanterns were prepared by the different DENR offices as entries to the DENR lantern contest. The winning entry from the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, with the theme "Megastar: A New Hope to Sustain Life", emphasized the interconnectedness or connectivity among living and non-living organisms.The lantern was made of a variety of plant materials, commonly found in our immediate environment, such as alibangbang pods and twigs, araucaria leaves, cogon, palmera, statice flowers and vine. Its message was to take care of our biological resources so that benefits can be enjoyed by majority of our people.
With the theme "Ang Tubig ay Buhay" the need to conserve a precious resource, that is water, was appropriately depicted in the Human Resources Management Service’ lantern. The service deemed to highlight the value of conserving water in the face of the looming water crisis in 2006 should peoeple continue to waste it and if no appropriate interventions would be undertaken by the government.
One lantern that provided new learning to most of the DENR employees was the "Mangcono," the entry of the Forest Management Bureau. Known as "Iron Wood", Mangcono (Xanthostemon verdugonianus Naves) is a tree species endemic to the Philippines and is known to have a very limited habitat. It is indigenous and thrives in Dinagat Island in Surigao, Homonhon Island in Samar, Batangas, Leyte and in Palawan, or the "Mangcono Trianglo". . . It also thrives in areas with an elevation of not more than 900 under a wide range of soil conditions. This iron wood was used in making balanghai or Ancient boat of Butuan which lasted to 900 years.