The annual “Paligsahan ng mga Parol sa UP” at the University of the Philippines Diliman was held on Wednesday, December 20, at the university’s Academic Oval. The various units of the campus presented their lanterns on the theme “Panibagong Lakas” (renewed strength).
This end-of-the-year activity has drawn crowds from the nearby communities and beyond the university’s constituents. This is why several participating groups have utilized the annual lantern parade to play up their advocacies.
Among these are the lanterns that carried calls such as “No to jeepney phaseout,” “No to red-tagging,” “Free Palestine,” “Defend academic freedom” and sufficient classrooms for every student nationwide.
The Lantern Parade started in 1922, inspired by the folk practices of carrying lanterns in various shapes and sizes to light the way to Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo during the Spanish Period.
It was institutionalized in 1934 by then-UP President Jorge C. Bocobo “so that students can have a frolicsome activity before the year ends.”
