San Fernando stages 101st lantern fest

MANILA, Philippines - The 101st annual Giant Lantern Festival of the City of San Fernando in Pampanga again proved to be a crowd-drawer as hundreds of local and foreign tourists came to watch the kaleidoscope of lights at the Robinsons’ Starmill grounds Saturday night.

Aired live by CLTV 36, a regional television station based in San Fernando, the event drew nine participating barangays, namely Dolores, Sto. Nino, Sta. Lucia, San Pedro, San Juan, San Nicolas, Telabastagan, Del Pilar and San Jose.

Barangay Dolores emerged as champion with a prize of P100,000, followed by second placer Barangay Telebastagan which got P50,000, and third placer Barangay San Jose with P30,000.

The victory of Barangay Dolores broke the two-year winning streak of Barangay Telebastagan, denying the latter a spot in the festival’s Hall of Fame.

Jade Pangilinan, city tourism officer, said the only other barangay which came close to clinching a Hall of Fame award was Barangay San Felipe, which did not take part in this year’s competition. – Dino Balabo, Ric Sapnu