Christmas Brilliance
Christmas-happy Philippinos cheer as giant light displays towering six 20 feet tall light up the night sky in San Fernando, northwest of the capital. The dazzling display of lights, accompanied by religious and festive imagery and Christmas carols, is part of the annual Giant Lantern Festival. Held mid-December each year, the festival acts as a platform to highlight the region’s famed lantern industry, which first started more than 100 years ago. Local designer Karl Quiwa, 31, told AFP it takes a team of 20 over a three-month period to build a light display, adding that he sees the effort as a “religious obligation.” Quiwa’s ancestors built their first piece for the inaugural 1908 festival — which has continued to this day. The giant lanterns, submitted for competition at the festival, use as many as 12,000 50-watt bulbs synchronized by 9.2 miles of electric cables and symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. The massive light pieces can weigh up to a ton, with parts costs soaring to a million pesos.
Smaller versions of these “Lanterns” are also produced by the city’s craftsmen and adorn lamp posts, office buildings and homes across the archipelago nation of 116 million which is home to Asia’s largest Catholic population. A sixth-generation descendant of San Fernando’s pioneer lantern-maker, Quiwa said he was proud to carry on the family tradition of “cheering people up during Christmas.” Fellow designer Edmar David echoed this sentiment, telling AFP that his company sells thousands of lanterns each year — including to the country’s massive overseas worker community. “Lanterns bring cheer, light and hope. Without them, life is sad,” David, 41, whose 2024 entry won best in show. “Almost all the lantern-makers here are related to each other or are friends with the others.”
The lantern-making tradition evolved from nighttime processions held by Spanish friars during the 300-plus years of Madrid’s colonial rule, the city government said. “It’s really beautiful and shows the importance of our communities in making Christmas meaningful.” As the light show unfolded, the lantern’s blindingly bright facades concealed a flurry of activity behind, as teams of people turned large metal barrels called rotors by hand to produce a kaleidoscopic effect. Firefighters carrying extinguishers could be seen patrolling the area, as sparks flew from the rotors of at least three lanterns. Despite their popularity, those involved in the festival worry technology and apathy could bring the tradition to an abrupt halt “We’re always on the lookout for young people to train, because nowadays.”
Brilliant Christmas lights
How do you know you did a good job decorating with Christmas lights?
Your electric bill brings a tear to your eye.
For Christmas, I bought my wife a world map and gave her a dart. I told her to throw it and wherever it lands, we would go on vacation after the pandemic was over.
Turns out we are spending two weeks behind the fridge.
I think Christmas should be moved to January.
The stores are less crowded and everything is on sale.
I was putting up Christmas lights today.
I fell off a 32′ extension ladder.
Good thing I was only on the first rung.
December 22nd Birthdays
1999 – G. Hannelius, 1974 – Heather Donahue, 1945 – Diane Sawyer, 1993 – Aliana Lohan
1971 – Ted Cruze, 1948 – Steve Garvey 1959 – Robin Gibb, 2000 – Joshua Bassett