CAN-AVID, Eastern Samar – The municipal government of this town is proud to be the first local government unit in the region to showcase giant Christmas lanterns for the Yuletide season.
About 28 giant Christmas lanterns, representing the number of the town’s barangays, are on display in this town which are all made of recyclable materials.
Mayor Gil Norman Germino said that their Christmas Lantern Festival is a competition on innovativeness and creativity of Can-avid residents by transforming recyclable materials into beautiful attractions for Christmas.
Germino added that using recyclable garbages as materials for creating the lanterns is part of the solid waste management program of the local government.
“Among the criteria is to use recyclable materials which will become a tradition of our town every Christmas,” Mayor Germano said.
Empty plastic bottled water, plastic bottled of soft drinks and other sweetened drinks, plastic cups and other recyclable materials were painted with different vibrant colors and decorated with colorful Christmas lights were used by each village to create their respective giant lantern.
The lanterns are displayed along the national highway of the town that will surely catch the attention and curiosity not only of the town residents but even motorists who are passing the town going to the northern and southern part of Eastern Samar and to the Pacific Coastal towns in Northern Samar province.
The local government unit hopes that not only residents of their town but even those coming from their neighboring towns in Eastern Samar would visit them every night to witness how beautiful the 28 Christmas lanterns.
The giant lantern festival will last until New Year’s Day with a weekly judging to ensure that the creators will check their entries and ensure that these will remain in good condition.
Winners of the competition will be receive P20, 000 for first prize; P15, 000 for second prize and P10,000 for third prize.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
