Giant lanterns light up Christmas in PampangaPhoto taken on Dec. 14 shows people at the Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando, Pampanga. The dazzling display of lights, accompanied by religious and festive imagery and soundtracked by Filipino rap and Christmas carols, is part of the annual Giant Lantern Festival. The giant lanterns, submitted for competition at the festival, use 12,000 50-watt bulbs synchronized by 15 kilometers (9.2 miles) of electric cables and symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. Firefighters carrying extinguishers could be seen patrolling the area, as sparks flew from the rotors of at least three lanterns, AFP journalists at the event saw. “Almost all the lantern-makers here are related to each other or are friends with the others,” said Florante Parilla, 55, who has been designing the giant lanterns for 30 years.

Source: Philippine Star December 20, 2025 17:23 UTC