San Fernando Pampanga: The Christmas Capital of the Philippines

Posted by Enrico Dee on December 23, 2009

Christmas is just around the corner. Only two dys to go and the whole world will be celebrating the happiest day in the calendar.

But here in the Philippines, the City of San Fernando Pampanga takes Christmas celebration seriously. Christmas is part of the lives of every Fernandinos.

And when we connect Christmas with San Fernando, the most common item between the two is the Parol of Christmas Lanterns.

San Fernando Pampanga is always to to be the best makers of Parol. Beautifully crafted lanterns made of plastic or Capiz shells are hot items in Pampanga.

But many do not know that lantern productions in San Fernando is a whole year round affair. And normally lantern prices are at its lowest during off peak season, from February until October. Prices would start to peak at late October until it reaches the Christmas season.

Because of its beauty, many of the San Fernando Parol are e
ither brought to other provinces, and some are exported to other countries as pasalubongs. That is why you get to see lanterns in 110 and 220 volts sold side-by-side.

And when we talk about lanterns, San Fernando knows how to impress the tourists. The annual Giant Lantern Festival or locally known as Ligligan Parul is a competition among the barangays in San Fernando where giant lanterns measuring no less than 18 feet in height try to outdo each other by creating a dizzying interplay of lights at sync with Christmas Songs.