BEFORE WE MARVEL AT PAROLS FEATURED IN THE GIANT LANTERN FESTIVAL, LET’S RETRACE THE STORY OF HOW SAN FERNANDO CITY BECAME ASSOCIATED WITH PAROL-MAKING.

One thing that makes Filipino Christmas distinct is the parol ( Christmas lantern). A parol is a star-shaped lantern that represents the star that guided the Three Kings to Betlehem in the Catholic belief. Others believe that it was inspired by the Mexican piñata that was brought by the Spaniards to the Philippines when they introduced Christianity to Filipinos

The City of San Fernando in Pampanga is the proud home to the makers of the country’s biggest lanterns, and is also the host of the most-anticipated Ligligan Parul (Giant Lantern Festival). According to records, the lantern tradition started in the municipality of Bacolor, Pampanga’s former capital, where people used a lantern to light their way as they held a procession to bring statues of saints to church during Lubenas (novena or nine-day prayer). It is said that when San Fernando became the capital, its residents adopted the tradition.

However, there are accounts claiming that the parol industry in the city emerged when the first parol was made by Francisco Estanislao in 1908. Estanislao, a salt maker, was the first recorded parol maker in the country, creating a parol out of bamboo and coco fabric for Simbang Gabi (night mass).

From lanterns made of simple materials lit with candles, San Fernandinos eventually added lights to parols when the city finally had access to electricity in 1931. One of the first celebrations of the Lantern Festival was during the time of President Manuel L. Quezon, who wanted to make Pampanga a model province. He even made the municipality of Arayat his vacation place and transformed it into a tourist resort. As a way of expressing their gratitude to the first family, the San Fernandinos held a Christmas lantern contest. Quezon sponsored the prizes that he personally awarded to the winners.

Fast forward to the present, the City of San Fernando is celebrating its 115th Giant Lantern Festival this year where 10 barangays are expected to surpass the previous years’ entries. Each lantern has a standard measure of 20 feet in diameter and uses over 10,000 bulbs. This year’s biggest, brightest, and most colorful Christmas event in the country can be witnessed on December 16 at Robinsons Starmills Pampanga and will be aired live on CLTV 36.

Dubbed as the Christmas Capital of the Philippines, San Fernando was able to keep the joyous celebration that has also become a major tourist attraction. More than bestowing recognition to the barangay that crafts the best lantern, however, San Fernandino’s Giant Lantern Festival is a celebration of the city’s rich culture and the people’s unity in crafting the best representations of the star that illuminates every Filipino’s Christmas.