One Luzon E-NewsMagazine 15 December 2011

Giant Lanterns The Giant Lantern Festival of the City of San Fernando in Pampanga has continually attracted throngs of spectators from many parts of the country.

Held annually every Saturday before Christmas Eve, the festival features a competition of dazzling gigantic lanterns pooled in one conspicuous area and displayed there for the duration of Christmas until the new year.

As seen in the past editions of the festival, spectators cannot help but to get awed and thrilled by the competing giant lanterns with their colorful lights moving with captivating choreography.

The origin of the festival was said to have dated back in the early 1900s when lanterns were just made of bamboo and other locally-available materials such as papel de hapon which later on was replaced by colored plastics. The lanterns measured just two feet in diameter, far from the 20 feet diameter lanterns that we see today in the festival.

Truly, the festival has evolved from a mere simple activity to an ostentatious tradition in the province of Pampanga, with the competing lanterns getting bigger and better every year.

Mounting a giant lantern is not an easy task. The construction of one is a product of a cooperative effort. Villagers work hand in hand, from concept and design, to the materials and labor – a proof of unity in the barrios.

This year, the Giant Lantern Festival will be held on Saturday (December 17) and it is expected to draw thousands of local spectators and tourists as competing lanterns guarantee so much promise, with lanterns far better than entries in the previous years, a grand showcase of Fernandino talent in lantern-making.

Ten Christmas lanterns will compete this year, each 20 feet in diameter and equipped with 4,000 to 8,000 colored bulbs.

And with the time and effort spent by villagers in mounting such, whichever wins, the Giant Lantern will be an attestation that indeed the City of San Fernando is the Christmas Capital of the Philippines.

William L. Beltran, PIA-3 Frank Cimatu, PDI - North Luzon Bureau

For comments, suggestions and inquiries,

please call (074) 442-2150/8240 or email at nclcluster.pia@gmail.com

The Laoag City Population Commission Office conducted a gift giving to indigent families, barangay officials, barangay health workers and chosen deaf-mute. The gifts consisted of wheel chairs, bicycle, cavans of rice and shirts at the Laoag City auditorium

Stranded dolphin was rescued by the BFAR and DA in Taggat, Claveria, Cagayan (photos by BFAR-2)

Vice-Governor and 2011 Pampanga Day Celebration Executive Committee Chair Joseller Guiao cuts the ceremonial ribbon for the formal opening of the trade fair, one of the highlights of the week-long celebration of the 440th founding anniversary of the province at the Olongapo-Gapan Road in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga

K to 12 Pre-summit Conference at the Baguio Teachers Camp with Department of Education officials led by Sec. Armin Luistro

,PDI

s c i t s i t a t S by: BAS/DA

Ilocos Norte Crime Statistics

National Statistical Coordination Board

Dec. 12

7:30 am

Dec. 12

8:00 am

TV Program over Iloco Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” Infocen's “Morning heritage Channel (IHC) 16Dec.12/ 8:00 amIlocos Norte Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE Laoag City Staff MeetingDec. 12/ 2:00 pmVigan City

Council Session

Dec. 12

Sangguniang Panlungsod (Pangasinan) Regular SessionDec. Sectoral Committee on Environment Meeting

Dec. 12

RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Laoag

Dec.13

7:30 am

Dec.12 Dec. 13

Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” Iloco heritage Channel (IHC) 16

Dec. 13 Dec 13

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Bagnet Festival in Narvacan, Ilocos Su Pangasinan Infocen's hh “Pantongtongan Tayo” Radio

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Dec.14

Ilocos Sur's Board Member Regular Session DWFB Ilocos Norte Infocen's “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over

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La Union Infocen's HDMF Fund Coordinator Meeting

11:30 am

AREX Program/Induction of Officers at Hotel Ariana,

Dec. 14

3:00 pm

Dec. 15

7:30am

Dec. 15

3:00 pm

over Iloco heritage

Ilocos Norte Infocen's “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” Channel (IHC) 16

DWFB Ilocos Norte Infocen's “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over

Dec. 17

over SKYCABLE Ilocos Norte Infocen's “Morning Sky” Television Program Pangasinan Infocen's Media in Action Forum RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Laoag

8:00 am

Dec. 17

12:30 pm

Dec. 18

8:00 am

Orientation/Consultative Meeting on the renewed campaign in preventing fireworks-related injuries, DOH Conference Hall, Carig, Tuguegarao City.

December 14, 8:30AM RGIN-TWG workshop, NEDA, Tug. City December 14

31st Pag-Ibig Fund anniversary, turn-over of the 28 computer units to selected public elem. school

December 15-17

DepEd Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) Elementary and Secondary, Gattaran, Cagayan. RD Licas as evaluator on News Writing, Editorial Writing, Feature Writing, and Copy and Headline Writing.

December 16

Christmas Party with Nueva Vizcaya Press Club

December 16, 9AM

Forum on Free Trade Agreements dubbed as “Doing Business in Free Trade Areas I-Market Approach”, Brickstone Mall, Tuguegarao City.

December 20

Regional OTOP Fiesta Trade Fair, Theme: “Proud Ako Sa OTOP Ko…Kaagapay Ko Ito” Brickstone Mall, Tug. City

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Sur Infocen's “Issue Pangasinan Infocen's KBP ForumDec. 16/ 7:30 amIlocos Channel (IHC) 16 lang walang personalan” TV Program over Iloco heritage

Dec. 16

DTI – One Town One Product (OTOP) meeting, DTI Cagayan

December 14, 8AM

over SKYCABLE Ilocos Norte Infocen's “Morning Sky” Television Program

Dec. 15

Dec. 16

December 13, 9AM

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TV Program over Iloco heritage

RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Ilocos

8:00 am

Regional Population Executive Board (RPEB) Regional Inter-Collegiate Population Debate, Crown Hotel, Tug. City

Bauang, La Union

Dec. 15

Dec.16

December 12, 1PM

over SKYCABLE Ilocos Norte Infocen's “Morning Sky” Television Program

Dec. 14

8:00 am

Regional Multi-sectoral Forest Protection Committee 4th Quarter Meeting, DENR, Tug. City

in Santol, La Union

TV Program Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” Channel (IHC) 16

Dec. 14

Dec.15

Program over DZMQ

December 12, 1PM

Sangguniang Panlungsod (Vigan City) Regular Session

RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Laoag

Dec.13 Dec. 14

TV Program over

8:00 am

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12/2:00 pmRDC

in Pangasinan

San Fernando City Diocese Spearhead Annual Celebration

December 20, 8:30 am Regional Nutrition Committee 4th quarter meeting, Kainang Pilipino Tug. City December 21, 9am

Every Monday - Cover- Isabela Sangguniang Panlalawigan session

of the OFW Family day

DZTP Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Arimbangaw” Radio Program over Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Nia't Makunam Kaillian Radio Program

Regional Risk Reduction and Management Council 2 4th quarter meeting, Ivory Hotel, Tug. City

Every Tuesday

over DWRS

- Tipon-Tipan sa PIA, 9-10 am - Tungtongan Ti Tribu Biskayano, 2 pm

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Dec 18

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