Pampanga’s lantern legacy lights up in Italy

PAMPANGA, Philippines – When Pampanga lights up its lanterns, it’s not only the spirit of the season that illuminates, but also a 100-year-old tradition. And for the first time, these lanterns have made their way to Italy bringing the light of the Filipino Christmas tradition to the other side of the world.

The Giant Lantern Festival that is being celebrated annually in the province began originally with lubenas lanterns during the Spanish colonial era, when Kapampangans used paper material for the lanterns with candles on bamboo poles to illuminate religious processions locally known as “Lubenas Ning Pasku” (The Novena of Christmas), according to the Center for Kapampangan Studies (CKS).

The lubenas lanterns appeared abroad for the first time during the first mass of the Simbang Bengi (Misa de Gallo) of the Filipino community at the Basilica di Sto. Stefano Maggiore in Milan on December 16.

Consul General Elmer Cato said they planned to move the lanterns from one church to another, including other parts of northern Italy, to allow Filipinos there to experience the Filipino Christmas tradition, especially as the region hosts a large number of Kapampangans, many of whom are from Magalang. 

The lubenas lanterns were sent as a gift to the Filipino community in Milan by the local government of Magalang, led by Mayor Malou Lacson and tourism officer Ryan Miranda. Lacson offered to bring the lubenas lanterns to support cultural diplomacy in the area, Cato said.

“The lanterns are now on display at the Basilica di Sto. Stefano Maggiore in Milan, where most migrants attend. Last night, we had them at the Duomo di Milano, the seat of the Archdiocese of Milan,” Cato told Rapppler on Wednesday, December 18.

“It was the product of my discussions with Mayor Lacson and tourism officer Miranda when I visited my mother’s hometown last year,” he added.

The parul’s history

It was in 1908 when the lubenas lanterns evolved into “ligligan parul” (competition of lanterns). “Kalburo” (carbide lamps) were later replaced with electricity-powered lights in 1931, according to a brief history from CKS as cited by Cato.

The tradition started in Bacolor and later spread to San Fernando after the town separated from the old capital in 1754. CKS Fernandinos began to enhance their lanterns, replacing paper with cloth, and the candles with kalburo. The booming sugar industry under the American regime then helped fund the transformation of the lubenas lanterns into the renowned giant lanterns of San Fernando, Cato continued. 

Originally, only nine barrios of San Fernando participated, he added. Each night of the nine-day lubenas, from December 16 to 24, was assigned to a different barrio, which would showcase its lanterns along the designated “paglimbunan” (procession route). Catholic devotees mount the lanterns on two rows preceding the saints’ carroza with one big lantern to lead right behind it.

The competition became a vehicle for “barrio sugu” (bayanihan), in which the wealthy residents of the barrio funded the construction of the lanterns while the underprivileged residents volunteered their skills, Cato said.

As the lanterns wore out easily and the giant ones could not be stored, the final night of the lubenas – when all barrio entries converged at the church patio, became the occasion for a violent conclusion. On this night, Cato furthered, holders of lanterns from different barrios smashed their lanterns against each other with the last lantern standing being declared the winner. This violent end, in contrast to the delicate nature of the lanterns, was likely the reason the smashing part was eventually discontinued.

CKS director Robby Tantingco said the lanterns symbolized the shapes of stars, representing the Star of Bethlehem that guided the three magi to the nativity.

“Our colonial-era ancestors hung them at windows to illuminate their house frontage as welcome to visitors, as guide to passing strangers, and as announcement of the household’s participation in the holiday spirit of the season,” Tantingco told Rappler on December 17.

In his Facebook post, Tantingco said Kapampangans particularly in the first district of Pampanga which includes Angeles City, Mabalacat City, and Magalang, as well as several other towns in the province, and a few towns in Tarlac hold processions to honor their patron saint for nine consecutive nights during the Simbang Bengi.

The religious procession features seven pairs of lighted lanterns mounted on bamboo poles including a whimsical fish lantern with a moving tail and fins and a large lantern placed behind the saint’s carroza. Singers also perform Dios te salve, Maria accompanied by banduria players, Tantingco shared.

The nine nightly lubenas serve as a fitting counterpart to the nine Simbang Bengi held the following morning. Both are acts of penitence by walking long distances for the lubenas and waking up early for simbang bengi, to prepare the soul for the coming birth of Christ, Tantingco said.

On December 14, the City of San Fernando celebrated its 116th Giant Lantern Festival, featuring 10 giant lanterns from 10 barangays, all using LED lighting to promote sustainability through an environment-friendly approach.

Barangay San Nicolas emerged as the champion, led by village chief Jerwin Sembrano and lantern maker Edmar David. They made history by clinching their first champion title in over two decades, winning a P300,000 cash prize.

Barangay Sto. Niño secured first runner-up with a P200,000 cash prize, followed by Barangay Bulaon as second runner-up with P100,000. Barangay Telebastagan rounded out the winners as third runner-up, receiving a P50,000 cash prize.

The Giant Lantern Festival will remain open for public viewing from December 15, 2024, to January 1, 2025 in selected locations across Pampanga province. –Rappler.com