Glowing floats and festive colors flooded the Academic Oval of the University of the Philippines Diliman Dec. 17 as this year’s Lantern Parade shed light on the people’s struggle for accountability against corruption, alongside other issues faced by various marginalized sectors.
In his message, UP President Angelo Jimenez hailed the UP community’s rightful and creative expression of indignation through their lanterns and performances. Nevertheless, he also called on the university’s students, alumni, faculty, and staff to be “the light of this country” amid the calamities and challenges faced by the nation.
“Let the brilliance of UP shine the light of hope. … Today, in the midst of darkness, UP must be dealers in hope,” Jimenez said.
UP offices, units, and organizations drew from this year’s theme “Abé-abé,” which means “togetherness” or “unity” in Kapampangan. The carousel-themed lantern “Abé-abé sa KALsada” of the UP Diliman College of Arts and Letters won first place, followed by Asian Institute of Tourism, the College of Architecture, the School of Archeology, and the College of Home Economics.
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