Frank Cimatu, PDI - North Luzon Bureau For comments, suggestions and inquiries, please call (074) 442-2150/8240 or email at nclcluster.pia@gmail.com

The Giant Lantern Festival of the City of San Fernando in Pampanga has continually attracted throngs of spectators from many parts of the country.

Held annually every Saturday before Christmas Eve, the festival features a competition of dazzling gigantic lanterns pooled in one conspicuous area and displayed there for the duration of Christmas until the new year.

As seen in the past editions of the festival, spectators cannot help but to get awed and thrilled by the competing giant lanterns with their colorful lights moving with captivating choreography.

The origin of the festival was said to have dated back in the early 1900s when lanterns were just made of bamboo and other locally-available materials such as papel de hapon which later on was replaced by colored plastics. The lanterns measured just two feet in diameter, far from the 20 feet diameter lanterns that we see today in the festival.

Truly, the festival has evolved from a mere simple activity to an ostentatious tradition in the province of Pampanga, with the competing lanterns getting bigger and better every year.

Mounting a giant lantern is not an easy task. The construction of one is a product of a cooperative effort. Villagers work hand in hand, from concept and design, to the materials and labor – a proof of unity in the barrios.

This year, the Giant Lantern Festival will be held on Saturday (December 17) and it is expected to draw thousands of local spectators and tourists as competing lanterns guarantee so much promise, with lanterns far better than entries in the previous years, a grand showcase of Fernandino talent in lantern-making.

Ten Christmas lanterns will compete this year, each 20 feet in diameter and equipped with 4,000 to 8,000 colored bulbs. And with the time and effort spent by villagers in mounting such, whichever wins, the Giant Lantern will be an attestation that indeed the City of San Fernando is the Christmas Capital of the Philippines.

William L. Beltran, PIA-3

Giant Lanterns

The Laoag City Population Commission Office conducted a gift giving to indigent families, barangay officials, barangay health workers and chosen deaf-mute. The gifts consisted

of wheel chairs, bicycle, cavans of rice and shirts at the Laoag City auditorium

The Laoag City Population Commission Office conducted a gift giving to indigent families, barangay officials, barangay health workers and chosen deaf-mute. The gifts consisted

of wheel chairs, bicycle, cavans of rice and shirts at the Laoag City auditorium

Stranded dolphin was rescued by the BFAR and DA in Taggat, Claveria, Cagayan (photos by BFAR-2)

Stranded dolphin was rescued by the BFAR and DA in Taggat, Claveria, Cagayan (photos by BFAR-2)

Vice-Governor and 2011 Pampanga Day Celebration Executive Committee Chair Joseller Guiao cuts the ceremonial ribbon for the formal opening of the trade fair, one of the highlights

of the week-long celebration of the 440th founding anniversary of the province at the Olongapo-Gapan Road in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga

Vice-Governor and 2011 Pampanga Day Celebration Executive Committee Chair Joseller Guiao cuts the ceremonial ribbon for the formal opening of the trade fair, one of the highlights

of the week-long celebration of the 440th founding anniversary of the province at the Olongapo-Gapan Road in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga

K to 12 Pre-summit Conference at the Baguio Teachers Camp withDepartment of Education officials led by Sec. Armin Luistro

K to 12 Pre-summit Conference at the Baguio Teachers Camp withDepartment of Education officials led by Sec. Armin Luistro

,PDI

Statisticsby: BAS/DA

National Statistical Coordination Board

Ilocos Norte Crime Statistics

Every Thursday

PIA Hour, DZWT, Bonifacio St. Baguio City

3

Dec 12 Enhancing Social Contract Thru Transparency & Accountability Forum with

Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales Baguio Country Club

Dec 16 111th Itogon Foundation Anniversary

Dec 16 CARE-CESG General Assembly and Year-end Assessment

NEAP Hall, Teachers Camp, Baguio Cit

Dec 15 4th Quarter Meeting RLECC & Christmas Party, Log Cabin, PRO-COR, Camp Dangwa

Transparency International – Philippines Forum on graft and corruption,

Baguio Country ClubDec12

Kapihan sa Baguio on DSWD updates

Dec14

Planning-Workshop on the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program

as a Convergence Strategy for the Attainment of the Cordillera Region's MDG Targets,

Hotel Supreme, Baguio CityDec14-15

4th Quarter RLECC Meeting and Christmas Party, Log Cabin, Camp

Dangwa, La Trinidad Pag-ibig 31st Anniversary Celebration, Palm

Grove Hot spring, Asin, Tuba, BenguetKapihan sa Benguet on Tuba

Founding Anniversary, Tuba, Benguet

Dec 15

Dec 16 Investors and Media Night, Itogon Municipal Gymnasium, Itogon,

BenguetCARE-CESG General Assembly & Year-end Assessment, NEAP

Hall, Teachers Camp, Baguio City

CARE Fun Run, Lake Drive, Burnham Park, Baguio CityForeign Groups

Christmas Festival, SM Atrium, Baguio City911 On Call 5th year

Anniversary, PIA grounds

Dec 18

Dec. 12 7:30 am Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” TV Program over Iloco

heritage Channel (IHC) 16Dec.12/ 8:00 amIlocos Norte Infocen's “Morning

Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE

Dec. 12 8:00 am Laoag City Staff MeetingDec. 12/ 2:00 pmVigan City Council Session

Dec. 12 Sangguniang Panlungsod (Pangasinan) Regular SessionDec. 12/2:00 pmRDC

Sectoral Committee on Environment Meeting

Dec. 12 RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Laoag

Dec.13 7:30 am Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” TV Program over

Iloco heritage Channel (IHC) 16

Dec.12 8:00 am Ilocos Norte Infocen's “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE

Dec. 13 8:00 am Bagnet Festival in Narvacan, Ilocos Su

rDec.13 Pangasinan Infocen's hh “Pantongtongan Tayo” Radio Program over DZMQ

Dec. 13 2:00 pm Sangguniang Panlungsod (Vigan City) Regular Session

Dec. 13 2:00 pm Ilocos Sur's Board Member Regular Session

Dec 13 3:00 pm Ilocos Norte Infocen's “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over DWFB

Dec.13 RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Laoag in Santol, La Union

Dec. 14 7:30 am Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” TV Program over Iloco heritage

Channel (IHC) 16

Dec.14 8:00 am Ilocos Norte Infocen's “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE

Dec. 14 8:00 am La Union Infocen's HDMF Fund Coordinator Meeting

Dec. 14 11:30 am AREX Program/Induction of Officers at Hotel Ariana, Bauang, La Union

Dec. 14 3:00 pm Ilocos Norte Infocen's “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over DWFB

Dec. 15 7:30am Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Issue lang walang personalan” TV Program over Iloco heritage

Channel (IHC) 16

Dec.15 8:00 am Ilocos Norte Infocen's “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE

Dec. 15 3:00 pm Ilocos Norte Infocen's “PIA HOUR” Radio Program over DWFB

Dec. 15 RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Ilocos Sur

Dec. 15 Pangasinan Infocen's KBP ForumDec. 16/ 7:30 amIlocos Sur Infocen's “Issue

lang walang personalan” TV Program over Iloco heritage Channel (IHC) 16

Dec.16 8:00 am Ilocos Norte Infocen's “Morning Sky” Television Program over SKYCABLE

Dec. 16 Pangasinan Infocen's Media in Action Forum

Dec. 16 RDC- Initiated LGU Best Practices Validation in Laoag in Pangasinan

Dec. 17 8:00 am San Fernando City Diocese Spearhead Annual Celebration of the OFW Family day

Dec. 17 12:30 pm Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Arimbangaw” Radio Program over DZTP

Dec. 18 8:00 am Ilocos Sur Infocen's “Nia't Makunam Kaillian Radio Program over DWRS

December 12, 1PM Regional Multi-sectoral Forest Protection Committee 4th Quarter Meeting,

DENR, Tug. City

December 12, 1PM Regional Population Executive Board (RPEB) Regional Inter-Collegiate Population

Debate, Crown Hotel, Tug. City

December 13, 9AM DTI – One Town One Product (OTOP) meeting, DTI Cagayan

December 14, 8AM Orientation/Consultative Meeting on the renewed campaign in preventing

fireworks-related injuries, DOH Conference Hall, Carig, Tuguegarao City.

December 14, 8:30AM RGIN-TWG workshop, NEDA, Tug. City

December 14 31st Pag-Ibig Fund anniversary, turn-over of the 28 computer units to selected

public elem. school

December 15-17 DepEd Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) Elementary and Secondary,

Gattaran, Cagayan. RD Licas as evaluator on News Writing, Editorial Writing,

Feature Writing, and Copy and Headline Writing.

December 16 Christmas Party with Nueva Vizcaya Press Club

December 16, 9AM Forum on Free Trade Agreements dubbed as “Doing Business in Free Trade

Areas I-Market Approach”, Brickstone Mall, Tuguegarao City.

December 20 Regional OTOP Fiesta Trade Fair, Theme: “Proud Ako Sa OTOP Ko…Kaagapay Ko

Ito” Brickstone Mall, Tug. City

December 20, 8:30 am Regional Nutrition Committee 4th quarter meeting, Kainang Pilipino Tug. City

December 21, 9am Regional Risk Reduction and Management Council 2 4th quarter meeting, Ivory

Hotel, Tug. City

Every Monday

- Cover Isabela Sangguniang Panlalawigan session

Every Tuesday

- Tipon-Tipan sa PIA, 9-10 am

- Tungtongan Ti Tribu Biskayano, 2 pm

-