LGUs light up Pampanga lanterns for Asean’s 50th year

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — To mark the 50th year of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), 76 local government units (LGUs) throughout the country will switch on 57 lanterns simultaneously, just as President Rodrigo Duterte lights a giant lantern on the grounds of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City on Aug. 8.

LGUs, government agencies and Malacañang tapped craftsmen from Quiman Trading based in this Pampanga city to make the lanterns.

For the Asean event, the craftsmen produced the largest lantern, measuring 24 feet in diameter, with the smaller lanterns measuring six feet in diameter, said Arvin Quiwa, president of Quiman Trading.

Quiwa’s design features the Asean emblem at the center of the lantern, with images of the national leaf (anahaw), the national flower (sampaguita) and the traditional Mindanao boat (vinta) encircling it, graphic references to the Philippines hosting and chairing this year’s Asean summit in November.

PH lantern capital

Dubbed as the “lantern capital of the Philippines,” San Fernando started lantern-making as a Catholic tradition, but it has since evolved into a homegrown industry.

Since 1908, the city has been holding an annual giant lantern festival every December.

Other cities like Manila and Dagupan in Pangasinan province will each display six lanterns. Further north, the Baguio City Hall and Barangay Poblacion in Banaue town in Ifugao province will switch on similar lanterns on Aug. 8.

Switch-on ceremonies

Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte province will install its lantern at St. Augustine Church in Paoay town. A lighthouse in Burgos town will also be lighted up during the simultaneous switch-on ceremonies.

Bauang town in La Union province was similarly exhibiting its lantern at Saints Peter and Paul Church, while  in San Fernando City, La Union, two lanterns will be arrayed in the middle of Heroes Park.

In Santa Rosa town in Laguna province, the Asean lantern will hang from an arc, while Isabela province’s lantern will be installed at the provincial capitol.

Lanterns will also be put on display in Albay province and the cities of Legazpi, Iriga and Naga in the Bicol region.

In Cagayan de Oro City, Kiosko Divisoria will host an Asean lantern,  while Osmeña Park in Davao City will similarly be lighted up by a lantern.

Among the agencies set to light their Asean lanterns are the Civil Service Commission, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the National Police Commission, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The simultaneous lighting ceremony will be followed by a concert of Asean artists at Bonifacio Global City amphitheater in Taguig City. —Tonette Orejas