Inter-agency lantern festival held at regional gov’t center

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— National government agencies located at the Diosdado Macapagal Government Center (DMGC), in collaboration with the Giant Lantern Festival committee 2016 and the City Government of San Fernando Pampanga recently conducted the DMGC lantern festival here.

The activity aimed to promote the concerns of women and children through the collaboration among Gender and Development focal point systems and agencies in the DMGC. This will also support the national campaign to end Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) pursuant to Proclamation 1172 s. 2006.

This year there were 21 government agencies which participated in the said event. The participants’design and

materials used in making their lanterns followed a set of guidelines which is to include environment friendly materials and were aligned with the proposed theme “Christmas for New Generation Women and Children” (Stop abuse on Women and Childr en) .

The lantern should have a minimum of three feet and a maximum of 4feet in diameter excluding the frame.

All the lanterns were paraded at the DMGC compound last Monday morning and were brought to the National Economic Development Authority III (NEDA-3) covered court after the parade.

All lantern entries have been exhibited at the NEDA-3 covered court on the same day from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, after which the entries have been returned to their respective agencies for display in their respective facades.

Judging was conducted with the help of the City Government of San Fernando Pampanga. The criteria for judging is 25 percent for its originality and creativity, 25 percent for the relevance on the theme, 25 percent for its resourcefulness, 10 percent for its lighting effects and 15 percent for its overall appeal for a total of 100 percent.

All winners will receive cash prizes and plaques. There would also be five special awards namely most captivating award, gender and development award, most eco-friendly award, best performance in the parade and people’s choice award.

The activity showcases public servants’creativity and talent and also provides assistance to a chosen charitable institution that caters to women and children in the San Fernando City.— Nadja Raphaela M. Madet, City Tourism Staff, City of San Fernando, Pampanga