Pampanga execs settle row over giant parol

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — The Philippines may yet make it to the Guinness Book of World Records after all — for the biggest Christmas lantern.

This, after Mayor Rey Aquino and provincial board member Robert David, whom the Singapore-based Walt Disney Television Corp. commissioned to build the giant parol, have settled their differences over the project in the spirit of Christmas.

Earlier, the two officials clashed over the project, with Aquino accusing David of lacking "courtesy" in not informing the city government about it.

City administrator Joey de Leon said Aquino opted to throw his support behind the project, setting aside his plan to make a P6.6-million, 60-foot lantern as legacy to his constituents before he runs for Congress in 2004.

Walt Disney tapped David to build a Christmas Mickey Mouse lantern about 70 feet high, expected to surpass the existing record-holder — a 38-foot high lantern made in India.

De Leon said Aquino agreed to support the project provided that the city and provincial governments would be mentioned in the Guinness entry. — Ding Cervantes