Foundation hosts lantern festival in Angeles City

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

ANGELES CITY — The Kuliat Foundation Inc., in cooperation with this city’s tourism office, will host once again this year’s “Ing Lubenas ning Pasku (A Lantern Festival),” which will be held Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., in front of the Holy Rosary Parish Church here.

Organizers said this is in line with KFI’s continuing mission to perpetuate the observance of the Christmas Novena.

According to KFI officials, this year’s event will be “bigger and better,” with funding coming from the City Government.

Ing Lubenas ning Pasku is a procession on land locally called limbun, where two rows of lanterns mounted on bamboo poles accompanying the andas (shoulder-borne carriage or carroza) or wheeled carriage bearing the patron saint’s image.

The lanterns, six of them on each row, are carried by boys or men.

At the head of the procession is a lantern in the shape of a cross, and behind it is another lantern in the shape of a fish with moving fins, mouth and tail which is a symbol for prosperity, or dove for peace, or lamb for sacrifice, or anything that stands as symbol of the novena’s intention.

Right behind the santo is a solitary lantern that is larger than the rest. Marching behind the carroza is the local singing choir, solemnly chanting with the accompaniment of a guitar, or a distinct drum beating.

Records show that in Angeles, this tradition dates back to December 1830.

“Although a few barangays may have stopped, some continue with this practice until this day,” KFI officials said. (Ria de Fiesta)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/foundation-hosts-lantern-festival-angeles-city

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