2021 Giant Lantern Festival lights up San Fernando, Pampanga

Pampanga’s finest lantern makers unveiled seven marvelous creations at San Fernando City's annual Giant Lantern Festival on Thursday.

The highly-anticipated annual event in the Philippines’s Christmas Capital went digital for the second year now amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

As seen in photos shared by Kapampangan photographer Gerald Gloton, one of the highlights of the night was the lantern from Sta. Lucia, whose lights at one point display a heartwarming “thank you” message for frontliners.

As a true testament to keeping the tradition alive, the youngest lantern maker in the festival —  26-year-old Mark Nino Flores from San Juan —  is the son of Arnel Flores of Telabastagan, who is the oldest craftsman to submit an entry this year.

Also showcasing their beautiful creations were Florante Parilla of Bulaon, Teddy Aguilar of Calulut, Edmar David of San Nicolas, Byron Bondoc of Sta. Lucia and Engelbert Bondoc of Sto. Nino.

The 2021 Giant Lantern Festival was launched digitally from Robinsons Starmills December 16, 2021.

According to CLTV, the exhibit is scheduled to run from December 17, 2021 until January 2, 2022. —JCB, GMA News