Pampanga lantern-maker pays tribute to frontliners helping fight COVID-19

Medical and security frontliners get a colorful “thank you” through a lantern handcrafted by Roland Quiambao. (Photo courtesy of City of San Fernando Public Information Office)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO –– A 10-foot Christmas lantern expressing gratitude to medical and security frontliners has illuminated the facade of a civic center hosting an isolation facility for COVID-19 patients in this Pampanga capital.

“Thank You Frontliners” are the words etched on the lantern made by Roland Quiambao. It was first lit on Nov. 16.

“I wanted to thank these people who care for patients infected by the virus,” Quiambao said in a phone interview on Thursday. “They face the risks of being infected, but they still care for the sick,” the 65-year-old artisan added.

San Fernando has 18 new COVID-19 cases and 195 active cases as of Nov. 18, a report from the provincial government showed. At least 741 people have recovered, while 34 had died.

Many travelers will get to see the Thank You lantern because his team will transfer it to a flyover on Jose Abad Santos Avenue (Jasa) this Friday or on Saturday.

Quiambao has also designed a giant lantern beaming a message of “Heal the World”

The city government has begun featuring a 16-foot lantern in front of the Heroes Hall.

Made by Arvin Quiwa in 2019, it was repaired for this year’s display.

LZB