The biggest and brighest lanterns light up Robinsons Starmills Pampanga
The creativity and craftsmanship of the lantern-makers of San Fernando, Pampanga take the spotlight once again as Robinsons Starmills holds the annual Giant Lantern Festival, which is slated from Dec. 18 to 21 (with Dec. 17 as competition date), Dec. 25 to 30 and Jan. 1, starting at 6 p.m. at the rear parking area of the mall.
Ten barangays in San Fernando, Pampanga will try to outdo each other in crafting the most intricate, colorful and brightest 20-foot giant lanterns — illuminated by thousands of light bulbs that run through large steel barrels called rotors — for the honor.
“Lantern-making is a very strong tradition here in Pampanga. It’s been going on for 108 years already. We want to preserve that. And one way of doing it is to create awareness among the youth through the Giant Lantern Festival,” said Jim Jimenez, chairman of the Giant Lantern Festival executive committee. “I just don’t want to wake up one day to realize that the tradition is already gone.”
Thank goodness, the youngest competitor for this year’s festival shares the same sentiment.
“I want to continue what my father and relatives started,” enthused Mark Flores, 21, a fifth-generation lantern maker. An engineering student, Mark helps his father come up with interesting designs using digital technology. “Lantern-making is our bread and butter. Through this industry, my parents were able to not only to send me through college, but also to help people in need.”
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His 46-year-old father, Arnel, has been in the lantern-making business for more than 30 years now. As a child, he used to peddle freshly baked pan de sal in their neighborhood to help augment the family income. In the afternoon, he would watch and help his cousin make lanterns.
“I was 10 years old then. My cousin inspired me to learn the craft. While I was making P10 a day selling bread, he was making a fortune,” related Arnel.
Soon, Arnel perfected the craft. He became so good at it that he was always declared the grand champion during the previous Giant Lantern Festivals. Not only that, he’s now one of the most sought-after lantern makers in Pampanga.
As a way of giving back and helping preserve the tradition, Arnel is teaching grades 2, 5 and 6 pupils in barangay Telebastagan — where he started — the art of lantern making.
“Don’t forget where you came from. I learned the craft for free, so why would I teach for a fee?” he enthused.
In this year’s festival, Mark and Arnel are competing against each other. Mark is representing barangay San Juan, while Arnel carries the “flag” of Telabastagan. The other barangays competing are Calulut, Del Pilar Dolores, San Nicolas, Sindalan, Sta. Lucia, Sto. Niño and San Jose.
The first-ever recorded giant lantern was crafted by Francisco Estanislao, a saltmaker from barangay Santa Lucia, in 1908. A giant lantern crafted by Arvin Quiwa, Estanislao’s descendant, was given as a state gift to Singapore’s Asian Civilisations Museum earlier this year.
SINUKWAN FESTIVAL 2016
The time-tested tradition and culture of Kapampangans are also reflected in Sinukwan Festival, which starts today at Robinsons Starmills Pampanga.
“The event promises week-long festivities and cultural immersion,” noted Michelle Ong, chairperson of the Sinukwan Festival 2016.
A wide array of food and crafts, ecclesiastical art pieces and lanterns from Parul San Fernando will be on sale starting today at the Plaza Arayat Atrium.
Also check out the Sinukwan Photo Retrospective exhibit titled “Gayak at Piblas” fashion show featuring the “seniorellas,” the “Dukit” competition, the pre-pageant and coronation of “Prinsesita” and “Cine-Kabalen” gala night.
Other activities include storytelling of Kapampangan fables for kids; Kapampangan hip-hop dance contest for the youth on Dec. 1; and a drum and lyre competitioin and coronation of Lakan Ning Sinukwan on Dec. 2.
“Now in its 12th year, the festival is becoming bigger, better and grander,” shared Jodee Paulette Arroyo, regional operations manager, Robinsons Starmills Pampanga. “Sponsoring both the Sinukwan and Giant Lantern Festivals is part of the thrust of Robinsons Land Corporation in promoting the local festivities not only in the province of Pampanga but throughout the country.”
The annual observation of both festivals — done through the public-private partnership between different foundations; the city government of San Fernando and Robinsons Starmills — aim to preserve long-held traditions and attract local and foreign tourists.
