La Familia Viajera goes to San Fernando, Pampanga!

Finally: touchdown San Fernando!

We've been planning for months to visit this bustling city in Pampanga. We only pass by the place whenever we get the chance to visit Súbic Bay Freeport Zone, but we've always been curious about this Capampañgan city which is known for its colorful way of celebrating the Holiday Season. Upon finally getting there last Sunday, we found out that the city is indeed worthy of its reputation — especially whenever Christmas nighttime falls!

The provincial capitol building was erected from 1907 to 1908.

The main purpose of our visit was to witness the annual Giant Lantern Festival which is usually held on the Saturday before Christmas Eve. San Fernando's famous Christmas event earned it the monicker "Christmas Capital of the Philippines". And for good reason because Christmas here is celebrated in very unique fashion: Capampañgan craftsmen create the most decorative Christmas lanterns one could imagine. We all call these familiar Filipino Christmas decors as the parol (its original spelling is "farol" as it is borrowed from Spanish). Here in San Fernando it is called Parul Sampernandu. And in major streets one will find shops where parols are both created and sold. But San Fernandinos also create some of their parols huge. And when I say huge, my golly, I do mean HUGE!

Our photo of this splendid Parul Sampernandu from Barrio Del Pilar doesn't even give justice to its immensity and rhythm of its dancing lights.

So stay tuned in the coming days as La Familia Viajera features more of San Fernando, Pampanga!

At the capitolio. Drats, you could barely see us in here. Sorry about that; it's our aging and overused camera's fault. We'll have it replaced soon (if the price is right, hehehe!).

¡Miquit tana queng tutuqui!

❤L❤A❤F❤A❤M❤I❤L❤I❤A❤V❤I❤A❤J❤E❤R❤A❤

TRIVIA" One of the proponents for San Fernando's cityhood was none other than former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, herself a Capampañgan.