TACLOBAN CITY – The entry of Barangays 1 and Camantang were the big winners in this year’s annual lantern festival in Can-avid, Eastern Samar.
The lantern festival, now on its sixth year, is not only aimed as an ordinary lantern competition but as part of the tourism campaign of Can-avid.
The winners were declared on December 30 with cash prizes at stake.
Judging of the entries was divided into two parts, first during the opening last December 18, then the final on December 30.
Brgys 1 and Camantang both won P200,000 donated by 4Ps party-list Representative Marcelino Libanan. They also won the People’s Choice Award winning an additional P5,000.
Second place winner was the entry of Brgys. 8 and Mabuhay, winning P150,000 sponsored by Gov. Ben Evardone.
The 3rd Place winner was the entry of Brgys. Rawis and Balagon winning P100,000 each with Marie Villarino Sy as the sponsor.
Mayor Vilma Germino was thankful to the sponsors of the cash prizes and to barangay officials who despite short notice were able to come up with entries for the annual competition.
“We want this to succeed because this has become our trademark,” she said during the awarding ceremony.
Unlike in previous years, each of the 28 barangays of Can-avid has entry to the annual competition, this year 14 giant Christmas lanterns participated after the local government clustered them into two barangays per entry.
The giant Christmas lanterns measuring about 5 meters were made from recyclable materials in support of the solid waste management program of the local government.
Lanterns were made of empty plastic bottles, plastic cups, and other recyclable materials. These were painted with vibrant colors and decorated with colorful Christmas lights.
The lanterns were displayed along the national road to catch the attention of the public and motorists. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
