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 The Lantern Parade 2007 - UP Diliman Style  I spent my undergraduate years in the UP Manila-PGH campus and was pretty much content with our version of the Lantern Parade. As I remember, each college would make a lantern that would follow an annual theme or would best show their field of expertise. The parade went through the PGH compound, a couple of blocks along Padre Faura St. and Pedro Gil St., then back to the hospital’s front parking lot for a program. I never ventured to our sister campus in Quezon City for their version, and after my sophomore year I stopped attending the Lantern Parade in UP Manila altogether. For the first time last December 19, I was able to witness this UP tradition, the Diliman way. This experience made me realize that the Lantern Parade is not just a school activity, but a cultural event. It showed the UP community’s way of life in a very striking way, particularly the University’s history, values and beliefs, its art and literature, and the symbols the UP cultures uses to communicate culture.   For example, the “sculpture” finale of the College of Fine Arts featured the University mascot: a parrot. While it may seem a funny symbol for the country’s top university compared to other school mascots, students affirmed the UP parrot with pride.  Some of the lanterns symbolized the history and vision of the colleges that created them. A vivid example was the higantes of SOLAIR, which represent the 5 stakeholders of the college. In addition, the workmanship and well-researched concepts of most of the lanterns showed how the students valued excellence. The parade also lauded the UP PEP Squad, which had brought honor to the University in recent competitions. For students with demanding academic requirements, the Lantern Parade was also a rare opportunity to show school spirit and their pride in being an Iskolar ng Bayan.

Freedom of expression is also a distinct cultural value and practice in the University. While some of the presentations could be classified as art for arts’ sake, several were a form of social commentary. For example, an organization displayed “Oust Gloria” banners, while their companions hoisted 100 placards about 100 campus issues. Meanwhile, a National Artist made a thought-provoking statement about our national situation as he rode a horse-drawn carriage – with the cart in front of the animal.  It was an outlet for humor as well, as illustrated by a naughty Oblation mascot and the subtle school bashing in the finale.

Meanwhile, the Lantern Parade emphasized UP’s multiculturalism; it is a melting pot of students and faculty from all over the Philippines, I could see how the University accepts diversity and encourages non-conformists in its population. This was shown by the members of Babaylan in their flamboyant butterfly costumes, the Ifugao group with their ethnic dances and costume, and so on. I also noticed that there were a lot of Koreans, Chinese, Americans, and other nationalities present either as participants and spectators; a dash of foreign spice to an already interesting mix. 

That Wednesday afternoon, my first thought was, “Where are the lanterns?” What I saw were not the typical brightly lighted, Christmas-inspired creations that hail from Pampanga. Instead, what met my eyes was a flood of color and movement: huge mascots of storybook characters and famous artists, miniatures of the ikot jeepney, living paintings, dancing monuments, and the ever present rally placards. Competing for attention were the marching bands, gyrating pep squad members, pennant-waving students, yelling activists and the cheering spectators. Most of the colleges represented played their own back-up music ranging from the oft-repeated Papaya tune, recorded folk music, and Christmas carols performed by live musicians. Scattered food stalls and souvenir shops and fireworks at the end of the program heightened the festive atmosphere of the parade.

I thoroughly enjoyed my first UP Diliman Lantern Parade since it was not only a feast for the senses, but gave me a lot of food for thought as well. I have already marked December 2008 on my calendar; the Centennial Lantern Parade is something I definitely would not want to miss.

I think I’ve forgotten how to write a reaction paper… this sounds so highschool-ish. And I wrote it for a grad school class. Ick. My only excuse is sleep deprivation. Also, the photo here is for aesthetic purposes only. Check out real UP Diliman Lantern Parade 2007 pictures here.