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| COLORFUL 'SAMPERNANDU' LANTERN, Magazine Cover, Esso Silangan, 1965 |
The famed San
Fernando giant lantern is a product of Kapampangan innovation, creativity and
tireless effort. So the next time you witness their spectacular display of
lights, color and dazzle, do appreciate the hard work put into each of these
works of art that can be considered truly Kapampangan. Here are vintage photos
and trivia about this Christmas parul that put Pampanga in the world map.
**********
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| EARLY LANTERN PHOTO, SAN FERNANDO. Taken 26 Dec..1909. Luther Parker Collection. |
1.This predecessor of the modern day Giant Lantern
Festival was actually a religious activity which we know today as “lubenas.”
The lanterns measured just two feet in diameter, created in each barrio from
bamboo and other locally available materials. During the nine-day simbang gabi novena
before Christmas, these paruls were brought around each barrio in procession to
their visita. Before the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, the lanterns were
brought to the town church together with the barrio patrons. This tradition
gradually evolved as the lanterns became bigger and the designs more intricate.
Later, one big lantern was made for each barrio, which was created through a
cooperative effort.
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| TYPICAL SAN FERNANDO PROCESSIONAL LANTERN,1960, |
2. The first documented lantern maker was Francisco
Estanislao, active ca. 1908, from Barrio Sta. Lucia, San Fernando. “Apung
Isku”, aided by his wife, crafted paruls in the 1900s using bamboo sticks,
cotton, string, satin and coco fabric panels, which were glued to the framework
using gelatinous rice paste. The back is left uncovered to accommodate the
‘kalburo’ (carbide) lights.
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| DEL PILAR GIANT LANTERN, 1940s |
3. The San Fernando Giant Lantern Festival, which
is held every December, finds its roots in Bacolor where a much simpler
activity was held. Following the transfer of the provincial capital from
Bacolor to San Fernando in August of 1904, this parul event followed as well.
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| STO.NINO GIANT LANTERN, in 1956 |
4. The earliest mention of a lantern procession
that culminated in a lantern contest, was reported in the religious publication in a 1930 issue of,“Ing Misyonero”, (year 4, no. 11) that was won by brgy. Del
Pilar, followed by Sto. Niño. The next year,
it was reported in the same magazine that eight barrios participated in the Christmas
pageant that was highlighted by lively
band music and a colorful lantern competition with Del Pilar achieving a
back-to-back win.
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| LANTERN PARADE IN SAN FERNANDO, 1960 |
5. It is believed that electricity was introduced
to the San Fernando lantern in 1931. At this time, the lights were controlled
by individual switches that were turned on and off following the beat of the
music. Pioneer participants included the barangays of Del Pilar, Sta. Lucia and
San Jose.
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| GIANT LANTERNS, from 1960 |
6. According to another version claimed by old
folks, the Giant Lantern Festival started during the time of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon.
At that time, Quezon was trying to make Pampanga a model province. In fact, he
made Arayat his vacation place and converted the legendary mountain into a
tourist resort. As a show of gratitude to Quezon, the people of San Fernando
held a Christmas lantern contest to honor the first family. Quezon himself
donated the prize for this lantern contest, which was personally awarded to the
winner by First Lady Aurora Aragon Quezon.
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| SAN FERNANDO LANTERN EXHIBIT, Luneta. 1961 |
7. Severino David, married to Fortunata Estanislao
(daughter of Francisco) is credited with introducing the battery-operated giant
lanterns in the 1940s. Great strides in the 1950s made the San Fernando Giant
Lantern more visually impactful. Steel wire was introduced in 1950 by Mario
Datu and Susing Manalang for use in making the framework of the lantern, thus
making it stronger.
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| INTRICATE LANTERN DESIGN, 1965 |
8. In 1957, Rodolfo David invented the rotor system that used ordinary hairpins,
attached to the end of the wires leading to each individual bulb. Masking tape
strips are placed on the rotor to serve as light switches. As the rotor is
turned, the hairpins brushes the tape strips, thus cutting off the current flow
that lit the bulbs. When that particular hairpin regains contact with the steel
rotor, the bulbs are again lit. Thus, the placement of the tape on the rotors
determines the interplay of lights on the lanterns and can spell success or
disaster for each entry.
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| SAN FERNANDO LANTERNS used in a San Miguel Beer Ad.1969 |
9. The lanterns gained national prominence in 1960, when, the Board of Travel and Tourism Industry and the Philippine Tourist
and Travel Association sponsored the San Fernando lantern parade in front of
the Luneta Grandstand. Beginning in 1964,
San Fernando lanterns became available for sale to the public, giving
birth to the commercial lantern industry.
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| SAN FERNANDO LANTERNS, 1969 |
10. The
Giant Lantern Festival, which was already an established San Fernando institution
was cancelled for two years (1978-1979) by Mayor Armando Biliwang because of Martial Law. It was revived in
1980. In
1987, Former San Fernando Mayor Virgilio “Baby” Sanchez started producing Capiz
lanterns for the export markets, with MAKVEL Enterprises. These lanterns followed
the traditional San Fernando design and were developed with the assistance of
the Design Center of the Philippines. The next year, the first fiberglass
lanterns were installed at the Pampanga Convention.
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| SAN FERNANDO LANTERN, 1979 |
11. The
new 90s decade saw the transfer of the annual Giant Lantern Festival to the
Paskuhan Village. The lanterns made international appearances at the World Expo
in Seville (1992), and at the Hollywood Christmas Parade (1993). The festival venue
was relocated to the open parking grounds of the SM City Pampanga at the turn
of the new millennium.
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| LANTERN MAKER, Jesus Maglalang. 1979 |
12. The
best-performing barangays in the Giant Lantern Festival Competition include Del
Pilar, which had an incredible 9-year winning streak in the 1980s. before that,
Sta. Lucia was a perennial champion. Brgys. San Felipe and Telabastagan almost
became Hall of Famers (3 championships in a row) in the first decade of the
2000. In recent times, Brgy. Dolores has bagged the championship 4 times in a
span of 10 years.
BONUS!
Double Take: LANTERN
LOOK-ALIKES
TRADITIONAL MEXICAN WREATHS,
have designs that mimic that of the famed San Fernando lanterns. Could these
have been design inspirations as we also have a history of Mexican-Philippine
relations? Or just plain coincidence?
VERY ENGLISH, VERY SAMPERNANDU.
A giant lantern of English make has a striking similarity with the giant San
Fernando lantern of San Jose. Taken at the Covent Garden, London, 1965.
SOURCES:
Henares, Ivan Anthony S. (2001). HOW TO MAKE A GIANT
LANTERN: The story Behind the Giant Lanterns of San Fernando. School Project.
University of the Philippines.
HISTORY OF GIANT LANTERN-MAKING IN SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA
(Estanisla-Davido-Quiwa Clan), by Landlee Quiwa
HISTORY OF THE LANTERN INDUSTRY : Its Contribution to the
Local Economy and Tourism, Oct. 4, 2016, Makati City
Giant Lantern Website: http://www.giantlantern.ph/index.php/about/history
Thanks to: Ching Pangilinan, CSF Tourism, Ken Gardiner
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