San Fernando, Pampanga—As expected, the rich barangay of Dolores in this city was declared the grand slam winner over other nine entries in the annual 2016 original Giant Lantern Festival competition held at its permanent venue, the Robinson’s mall here, on Saturday night.
The victory for Dolores was its third straight following wins in 2014 and 2015, and earned for it a handsome cash prize. Barangay Calulut placed second and Sindalan was third.
The winners of this year’s competition saw their entries using more than 10,000 bulbs, while the other entries could only muster 6,000 to 8,000 bulbs for their lanterns.
The Giant Lantern Foundation, headed by businessman Alfrito Mah, is thinking of limiting the number of bulbs in next year’s competition.
“This is only being studied by the foundation to encourage more participants, and at the same time for barangays to conduct more innovative entries,” Mah said.
The entry of San Nicolas had a fighting chance to make the podium, as it impressed the audience with its presentation of unity in lights and color in the first round of the competition, when all entries were given seven minutes to show their best. But the barangay faltered in the second round along with others that didn’t show their winning form.
In the last round of the festival, the panel of judges chaired by Jim Jimenez and composed of diplomats, artists, government executives, and other officials voted Barangay Dolores as the clear winner.
Several thousand people came to witness the festival including former President and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, Rep. Aurelio Gonlazes, City Mayor Edwin Santiago, and prominent businessmen and government officials.
The annual festival is the province’s main attraction during the holiday season, which coincides with the first Midnight Mass and the sale of Christmas staples like rice cakes and puto bumbong with tea.