Rains won’t stop Pampanga’s giant ‘parol’ show

SHOW GOESON Despite the heavy rain, colorful giant lanterns made by Pampanga craftsmen compete in this year’s Ligligan
Parul Festival at the City of San Fernando. E.I. REYMOND OREJAS/ CONTRIBUTOR

RAINS did not spoil the 107th Ligligan Parul (Giant Lantern Festival) on Saturday night in the City of San Fernando in Pampanga province.

Organizers waited for the weather to calm down, covering mammoth lanterns mounted on trucks with tents for protection from the downpour.

The program began more than an hour past the opening scheduled for 6 p.m. Spectators trickled in, holding umbrellas, wearing raincoats and jackets, and quickly brought out cell phone cameras and tablets when 11 lanterns, as huge as two-story houses and fitted with 107,735 light bulbs, began flashing patterns of lights.

Rain or shine

Marni Castro, who heads the festival’s technical team, said the craftsmen stuck to one policy: “Rain or shine, the lanterns are going to perform.”

Lantern maker Eric Quiwa was nervous, said Ching Pangilinan, city tourism officer and the night’s emcee. “Eric said the rotors won’t work because they were grounded. Then it stopped raining,” she said.

Rotors are electricity-run devices developed locally by lantern makers to display complex light patterns.

Master lantern maker Ernesto Quiwa, 63, recalled that the only time the festival was stopped was from 1972 to 1974 during martial law.

For safety, rotors operators were required to wear hard hats, gloves and shoes. The wheels of the rotors were wrapped with electric tape.

Champion

The lantern of Barangay Dolores emerged the champion, giving the village two wins in a row. Its light display was synched to the song, “God Gave Me You,” the theme song of “kalyeserye” sensation AlDub (the pairing of GMA television’s Alden Richards and Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza).

Quiwa’s protégé, tricycle driver Teddy Aguilar, designed the lantern. “It feels good to bring honor to the village. We’re aiming for a grand slam in 2016,” Aguilar said.

The judges, who included the ambassadors of Russia, Turkey and Germany, picked the lanterns of the villages of Del Pilar, Sindalan and Calulut as first, second and third placers, respectively.

The Del Pilar entry had flashing lights, which formed the greeting “Al Dove you all,” also a reference to AlDub. The Sindalan lantern displayed a cross before presenting the Philippine flag to the tune of Francis M’s song, “Mga Kababayan Ko.”

These lanterns were designed by Roland Quiambao, and the brothers Arvin and Eric Quiwa, who are fifth-generation lantern makers descended from the craft’s pioneer, Francisco Estanislao.

Quiambao, a protégé of Mario Datu, rejoined the competition after a hiatus of nine years.

For Sindalan, it was its first time to compete, along with Barangay Pandaras.

Cash prizes

The winners took home cash prizes of P150,000, P100,000, P75,000 and P50,000.

But the prizes only covered a quarter of the cost of making a 6-meter replica of the Star of Bethlehem. According to the Bible, this was the star that led the Three Wise Men to the Child Jesus more than 2,000 years ago.

Each of the participating villages received subsidies of P180,000 from the Giant Lantern Festival Foundation and Robinsons Starmills, and a P100,000 grant from Gov. Lilia Pineda. The rest of the expenses were donations from the communities.

The Telabastagan lantern formed the image of a white Christmas tree, while the San Nicolas entry displayed lights shaped like fireworks and peacock’s feathers.

The lanterns of San Juan and Pandaras were light displays seeking “Peace on Earth.”

San Jose’s entry called for mercy and compassion, while Sto. Niño’s lantern, made by Ernesto Quiwa, adhered to the traditional elements of lantern design.

Car batteries, trucks

The defunct bus company, La Mallorca Pambusco, and former sugar mill, (Pampanga Sugar Development Co., were recognized by the show for lending car batteries and trucks that lit and transported the lanterns.

The late Ceasario Sason was cited for his lantern-making craft. His daughter Mary Ann Torres hoped to join the 2016 festival, which would make her the first female lantern maker.

All 11 lanterns will be on display on Dec. 20 and 21 at Robinsons Starmills, Dec. 22 at Essel Park, Dec. 23 at Greenfields, and Dec. 24 in front of Metropolitan Cathedral in the city. These will be returned to the Robinsons Starmills on Dec. 25 until Jan 6.