The much-awaited Lantern Parade 2021 of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) campus was held online for the second year and on-ground at the College of Fine Arts (CFA) studio on December 21. This year’s parade hopes to inspire UP constituencies across the nation and every Filipino affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and recent calamities, such as typhoon Odette. The livestreamed year-ender featured messages of hope from top University officials, uplifting music and dance performances, and the presentation of creatively crafted Christmas lanterns made of hybrid multimedia materials and then finalized in video format.
With the theme “Ugnayan at Pagpupugay: Tulay ng Buhay at Pag-asa Ngayong Pandemya” (roughly translated as “connecting and giving praise: bridge for life and hope in this time of pandemic”), this year’s lantern parade, held virtually since 2020 in observance of safety protocols during the pandemic, aims to rekindle hope and the spirit of unity in everyone, and to give due recognition to the University’s personnel, its pandemic frontliners, and various units, and their efforts in addressing the challenges currently faced by the nation.
Watch the replay of the UPD virtual lantern parade here.
UPD Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo explained that the annual celebration is vital to the UP community, although the Lantern Parade now is much simpler and more solemn.
“Mahirap ang pinagdaanan nating lahat sa taong ito. Nariyan ang pandemya at sunud-sunod na trahedya. Pero huwag nating kalilimutang may liwanag sa gitna ng dilim. Tulad ng mga parol na inyong nilikha, sana lahat tayo ay maging instrumento ng pagkakaisa. Sana lahat tayo ay maging tanglaw ng pag-asa. Maligayang Pasko sa lahat,” Nemenzo said.
UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, in the message read by Vice President for Public Affairs Elena E. Pernia, praised the entire UP community for all its efforts to save lives, promote health, and guide policymakers during the pandemic. He added that the lanterns symbolize the individual and collective initiatives that give hope to our lives.
“Ang paglingap natin sa isa’t isa ay di magmamaliw, bagkus pinatatatag tayo bawat araw na tayo’y di nagpapagupo. Salamat sa isa na namang taong nasa inyong piling at pagsasama. Mabuhay ang UP nating mahal. Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon, mga ka-UP!” Concepcion said.
UPD Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (VCCA) Aleli B. Bawagan presented the participants and winners of the 2021 Lantern Parade. Of the almost 30 academic and administrative units and student groups that submitted their video lanterns for the virtual parade, the “Walang Hanggang Pag-alab” of the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) won first prize. The lanterns from the College of Home Economics (CHE), the Asian Center (AC), and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) received second, third, and honorable mention prizes, respectively.
Also, livestreamed were the video lanterns from the following units: College of Architecture, College of Education (with UP Integrated School and National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development), College of Law, College of Science, Institute of Mathematics, College of Social Work and Community Development, Asian Institute of Tourism, College of Music and CFA, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration (OVCA), Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (OVCCA), National College of Public Administration and Governance Student Council, and UP Business Administration Council.
Video lanterns from the students of the CFA comprised a distinct category for the event. The winners were: for first prize, “Ang Ilaw ng Pag-asa” by Visual Communication (VC) 26 Block X under Prof. Melvin Calingo; for 2nd prize, “Ipagpatuloy ang Liwanag ng Pag-asa: Ang Kuwento ng Community Pantry” by VC FA 14 Block W under Prof. Jose Manuel Sicat; and for 3rd prize, “A Year in Automata” by FA 14 Materials Class Sections UID1 and UID2 under Profs. Michael Shivers and Fortunato dela Peña Jr. “Frontliners Araw-araw” by VC 26 Block Y under Prof. Joy Ilagan was awarded honorable mention.
UPD Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VCSA) Louise Jashil R. Sonido conveyed the University’s recognition and gratitude to the officials and personnel who comprise the UPD COVID-19 Task Force, UP Health Service, Silungang Molave, UP CHK Bakunahan sa Diliman, HOPE 7 (Kamia Temporary Isolation Facility), and the Philippine Genome Center. She also thanked the offices and staff that keep the University in operation: the OVCCA, with the Campus Maintenance Office, Public Safety and Security Office, Diliman Environmental Management Office; the OVCSA, with the Office of Student Housing and University Food Service; the OVCA; the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development; Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; and the committees that they formed.
Members of the UP Dance Company, UP Dancesport Society, UP Filipiniana Dance Group, UP Streetdance Club, UP Symphony Orchestra, UP Madrigal Singers, UP Concert Chorus, UP Staff Chorale, and many more personnel and students participated with their heartfelt performances during the virtual lantern parade and year-end program. College of Mass Communication alumna Rain Matienzo and CAL Prof. Marvin Olaes served as emcees.
