Annual UP Lantern Parade canceled

MANILA, Philippines — The grounds of University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman will not be illuminated by colorful floats as the premier state university has decided not to hold its annual Lantern Parade.

In a Dec. 10 memorandum, vice chancellor for community affairs Aleli Bawagan said that in lieu of the parade, a simple program would be held at Quezon Hall on Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. “to commemorate and remember the entirety of 2020,” when the country faced one tragedy after another — from the eruption of Taal Volcano in January, the ongoing pandemic since March and the onslaught of typhoons from October to November.

UP’s annual Lantern Parade traces its roots in 1922 as a simple homage to the old Christmas tradition of carrying lanterns to light the way to the Misa de Gallo (dawn Masses).

It was only institutionalized in 1934 by UP president Jorge Bocobo “so that students can have a frolicsome activity before the year ends.”

—Dexter Cabalza

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