Capampangan

Giant lanterns amaze thousands

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:12:00 +0000

by John Francis Lagman

December 18, 2010

City of San Fernando, Pampanga

Over 25,000 spectators from different parts of the country and abroad gathered at the open grounds of Robinsons Starmills last December 18 to watch Ligligan Parul, the interplay of lights and colors of giant lanterns with background music.

Nine 20-foot lanterns representing different villages from the ‘Christmas capital of the Philippines’ participated at the annual giant lantern festival competition.

Participating villages include Dolores, Del Pilar, San Jose, San Juan, San Nicolas, Sta. Lucia, Sto. Niño, San Pedro and Telabastagan.

Fifty-two year old Efren Tiodin, lantern maker of Dolores, said winning the competition is a great honor for crasftsmen like him. His work which is fitted with 5,000 bulbs earned second place, winning a prize money of 50,000 pesos.

“We wanted to show the ingeniouity of the people of San Fernando. All of the participants are good. And I hope the future generations will be able to make further improvements,” Tiodin said.

His lantern flashed the word Peace combined with an image of 'Trudis Liit'. “I wish that everyone will be happy this Christmas, whatever their religion is,” he said.

Lantern-making usually takes one and a half month. For this year, the City government provided a subsidy of 120,000 pesos to the expenses of each villages.

Lanterns used at the competition are recycled by the villages every year. Bulbs, cable rods, paper, rotor system, fiberglass, plastic and other materials used are repaired according to the preferred design, harmony, organization and color combination.

The giant lantern of Sta. Lucia which is fitted with 8,600 bulbs and 9 rotors was named the grand winner by a group of local and foreign judges.

“We are very happy especially my constituents. We cannot buy this happiness. This is the fruit of our hardwork. Maybe God gave this championship to us because of our perseverance and dedication,” said Herman David Quiwa, 52, village Chairman.

“All the people of Sta. Lucia offered their prayers for us to win. Some 18 people volunteered for the lantern-making. The youths did not ask for salary and that’s why I’m very thankful,” Quiwa said.

Quiwa said they will save the prize money of 102,000 pesos to prepare for next competition.

The lantern of San Nicolas which conveyed the message of love combined with an image of an angel bagged the third place and a prize money of 30,000 pesos. All the members of participating villages received tropies as a sign of recognition.

Olive Lanuza, a Kapampangan who is based in Italy, enjoyed watching the competition with his children, grandchildren and some visitors from Norway. “I’m a bit dissappointed because Del Pilar, which used to be a hall of famer did not win. But It’s okay because the opponents really did well,” Lanuza said.

“In Italy you won’t feel this happy during Christmas. This time in Italy is winter and people are lazy going out in the snow. You’ll get crazy if you are alone. There is still no place like the Philippines, especially in Pampanga during Christmas. We came back for this celebration,” she said.

Eddie Chua, the over-all committee chairman, said the celebration commemorates 102 years of lantern making excellence. Lantern-making started in San Fernando in 1908.

“The main purpose of this festival is to bring joy and cheers. There is also a business side in this project because we wanted to promote tourism. Five months before Christmas every year, lantern-making is providing livelihood to our people. We sell lanterns not only here but also in other countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, among others,” Chua said.

Chua said lantern parades around the City up to the Christmas day are also part of the celebration.

-30-

Be the solution, priest tells students

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:24:00 +0000

Former Pampanga governor Father Eduardo “Among Ed” Panlilio told University of the Philippines students in Quezon City that miracles can happen in politics.

In an address on prospects for changing Philippine politics and society, Panlilio said that reforms he introduced in Pampanga showed that it is “possible to have transparency, accountability, people participation, respect for ecology, humility and dignity in public service.”

He urged students to “be hopeful” and to “be a solution to the problem.”

He added that he now hopes to resume his priestly ministry following his failed bid for re-election.

The 56-year-old priest was suspended from his priestly duties after he decided in 2007 to run for office.

He had served most of his three-year term when the Commission on Elections ruled that a recount showed his opponent Lilia Pineda had won the post.

Pineda defeated Panlilio for a second time at the May election.

Full report at ucanews.com

Pres. Arroyo proclaimed as winner of 2nd district Pampanga congressional race

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Mon, 17 May 2010 08:00:00 +0000

05/13/2010 | 12:04 AM

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Gov Panlilio shocked by Comelec decision favoring Pineda

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Thu, 06 May 2010 02:17:00 +0000

05/06/2010 | 08:16 AM

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Lawyer: Pineda declared winner in 2007 gubernatorial race

05/06/2010 | 08:16 AM

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Panlilio-Pineda rematch for Pampanga gubernatorial seat

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:42:00 +0000

03/26/2010 | 01:12 PM

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Pampanga town prepares for traditional Holy Week crucifixions

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 23:46:00 +0000

03/22/2010 | 08:25 PM

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Comelec unseats Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:24:00 +0000

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Arroyo formalizes congressional bid

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:53:00 +0000

12/01/2009 | 07:09 PM

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Arroyo attends Mass first before filing certificate of candidacy
12/01/2009 | 07:13 PM

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Landslide hits Arayat in Pampanga

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:57:00 +0000

09/28/2009 | 08:03 PM

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Pampanga residents go on with daily lives amid floods

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:34:00 +0000

09/14/2009 | 08:41 AM

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Panlilio-Padaca tandem withdraws presidential bid, supports Noynoy

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 03:16:00 +0000

09/05/2009 | 12:23 AM

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Comelec hopes to finish Pampanga recount soon

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:10:00 +0000

08/24/2009 | 07:21 PM

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Panlilio ready to give way to Noynoy Aquino in 2010 polls

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:35:00 +0000

08/23/2009 | 04:19 PM

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Pampanga Gov. Panlilio announces intention to run for president

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 06:05:00 +0000

07/18/2009 | 12:46 PM

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Panlilio slams SC's order for 2007 Pampanga Vote recount

07/17/2009 | 10:01 PM

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Panlilio-Padaca movement for 2010 launched

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 03:48:00 +0000

03/22/2009 | 04:26 PM

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Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio ready to run for president

03/22/2009 | 06:56 PM

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Peso movement launched to raise funds for 2010 elections

03/23/2009 | 12:06 AM

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Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio may run for president in 2010

03/23/2009 | 12:04 AM

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Gov. Panlilio determined to seek presidency in 2010

03/23/2009 | 05:59 AM

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Interview with Pampanga Gov. Panlilio over 2010 elections

03/23/2009 | 06:26 AM

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QTV: Pampanga Gov. Panlilio ready to seek presidency in 2010

03/23/2009 | 12:31 PM

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Pampanga Gov. Panlilio ready to seek presidency in 2010

03/23/2009 | 06:42 PM

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Panlilio ready to run for president in 2010

03/23/2009 | 11:48 PM

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Pampanga's culinary delicacies featured

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 07:29:00 +0000

03/19/2009 | 10:21 PM

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Pampanga officials sign manifesto supporting Arroyo

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:51:00 +0000

02/24/2009 | 07:44 PM

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Pampanga gov says Rep. Arroyo coddling jueteng operators

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:49:00 +0000

02/16/2009 | 09:31 PM

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Pampangueños stage Ibon-Ebun Festival

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:04:00 +0000

02/06/2009 | 07:33 PM

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Traders object to new Pampanga quarrying rules

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:30:00 +0000

01/15/2009 | 07:37 PM

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Petition to recall Gov. Panlilio filed at Comelec

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:23:00 +0000

10/16/2008 | 10:00 PM

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Flood hits Candaba, Pampanga, due to breached dike

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:18:00 +0000

10/02/2008 | 11:01 PM

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11 villages in Pampanga flooded
10/03/2008 | 12:11 AM

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Officials inspect breached dike in Pampanga
10/03/2008 | 09:45 AM

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San Fernando begins selling Christmas lanterns

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:53:00 +0000

09/16/2008 | 11:59 PM

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Bishop warns priests who call for Panlilio ouster

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:50:00 +0000

09/05/2008 | 08:38 PM

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Pampanga governor not disturbed by calls for recall election

noreply@blogger.com (john francis lagman) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:23:00 +0000

08/25/2008 | 07:33 PM

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Signature campaign vs Pampanga gov Panlilio launched
08/25/2008 | 01:09 PM

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