In a city that embraces diverse culture and art, Baguio engirdles joy at the very heart of its streets with sparkling lights and the smell of fresh pine lingering in the air. The unspoken anticipation for warmth and togetherness is a reminder that the happiest holiday has arrived. The cold season breeze invites people through a hint of wonder, igniting curiosity, and awakening a feel of magic.
On 01 December 2025, hope transformed into trinkets of lights illuminating the city streets from the 17th Lantern Parade of Saint Louis University (SLU).
The idea of wonder came alive through this year’s Lantern Parade with the theme: “Illuminating Cultures: A Radiant Celebration of Global Traditions”. Stringing lights stretched through the pathways of Session Road to the Melvin Jones Grandstand along Harrison Road, infinite colors reflected through glass windows, enriching the feeling of connectedness by experiencing global traditions and cultures beyond boundaries.
In consonance with the 114th Foundation Anniversary theme “Missio et Excellentia: Fostering Innovation, Nurturing Synergy, Reinforcing Purpose-Driven Education,” this year’s SLU Lantern Parade showcased innovative ideas and craftsmanship that enhanced synergy of collaboration within the Louisian community and fostering a week long celebration of purpose in pursuit of excellence and missionary spirit.
Illuminating Cultures, Celebrating Traditions
The 17th installment of the esteemed tradition in SLU has become a hallmark of the “Christmas-in-Baguio” season, attracting thousands of visitors to partake in the joyous celebration of light, love, and kindness. As the Lantern Parade culminates the University’s Foundation Anniversary celebration, it also commences the Christmas season in the City.
Diverse countries were represented with culturally knitted lanterns in expression of their traditions and community-rooted exhibitions. The seven competing schools gave their all in each of their five-minute field performances at the Melvin Jones Grandstand that represented their assigned countries with their own lantern festival:
- Entry No. 1: School of Law (SOL), Thailand
- Entry No. 2: School of Accountancy Management Computing and Information Studies (SAMCIS), Myanmar
- Entry No. 3: School of Medicine (SOM), South Korea
- Entry No. 4: School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA), India
- Entry No. 5: School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA), Australia
- Entry No. 6: School of Nursing, Allied Health and Biological Sciences (SONAHBS), Japan
- Entry No. 7: SLU Basic Education School (BEdS), Vietnam
The festivities were enriched by a performance from the SLU Marching Band led by the SLU Marching Band Trainer Ms. Marivic B. Macadaeg who skillfully executed a selection of Christmas carols and festive melodies. Their performance was marked by precision and harmonious coordination.
The band’s visual presentation was complemented by color guards bearing flags in hues of black and white , under the leadership of the Marching Band’s President Christian Mark Mendez.
This year’s Christmas tree lighting is uniquely designed and made with bamboo, embodying simplicity, sustainability, and resilience. The bamboo structure symbolizes strength and flexibility, reflecting Baguio City’s commitment to environmental stewardship and cultural heritage. Its natural elegance captures the spirit of the season while honoring local craftsmanship and ecological responsibility. This eco-friendly design not only highlights the city’s dedication to innovation and tradition but also inspires the Louisian community to embrace care for nature as part of their shared values during the festive season.
This was followed by a spectacular firework display that signaled the commencement of the luminous procession along Session Road.
The procession began with non-competing groups led by the SLU Administration Office, SLU Sacred Heart Medical Center, School of Advanced Studies (SAS), SLU Alumni Association, Retirees Association of SLU, and Baguio Government officials accompanied by the university’s mascot, NAVI. Participants carried diverse lanterns symbolizing Saint Martin’s Lantern Tradition commemorating his spirit of light and generosity from the Netherlands and Germany.
17th SLU Lantern Parade Competing Entries
SOL: Yi Peng Lantern Festival
Transcending previous hardships to welcome promising new horizons, Thailand—the School of Law represented the Yi Peng Lantern Festival from Thailand. The sky lanterns and lotus shaped lanterns carried heartfelt wishes for happiness, health, and prosperity, serving as sacred offerings to Buddha embodying wisdom, enlightenment, and good karma. Beyond individual reflection, this festival fosters unity, bringing the community together in shared hope, renewal, and gratitude. As thousands of lanterns rose in unison, they symbolized not only personal aspirations but also the collective spirit and harmony that bind us all toward a brighter future.
SAMCIS: Tazaungdaing Festival of Lights, Myanmar
The Tazaungdaing Festival of Lights in Myanmar, proudly showcased by SAMCIS, symbolizes the end of the rainy season and the Buddhist fasting period. With their hot air balloon moon flower, lotus, and feather lanterns, the presentation reflected themes of purification, gratitude, and spiritual renewal. The festival’s lights and lanterns represent wisdom overcoming darkness and offerings to heavenly beings, encouraging merit-making, unity, and the strengthening of social and religious bonds.
SOM: Seoul Lantern Festival, South Korea
The Seoul Lantern Festival symbolizes hope, peace, and unity. Lighting lanterns represents letting go of negativity, welcoming hope for the future, and spiritual renewal. The lanterns often depict traditional symbols like their lanterns dragons for power and good fortune, and lotus flowers for purity and enlightenment. Overall, the festival reflects the triumph of light over darkness and fosters community connection and cultural appreciation.
STELA: Diwali, India
Representing the country of India, STELA graced the streets with lanterns symbolizing the victory of light over darkness or good over evil through a Hindu originated festival called Diwali. This festival is celebrated through brightening up homes and streets decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or colorful lights, gift exchanges, and family quality time. STELA created pink candle lanterns, and lanterns in the form of small houses. A peacock in the colors of green, orange, and yellow, the mother lantern was the center of the performance.
SEA: Australia, Moon Lantern Trail
From Australia, the Moon Lantern Trail is a spectacle of lights unraveling the histories and traditions of Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations from across Asia. It is a festival of lights where you can walk at your own pace while witnessing lanterns stretched across a riverbank. This parade is a celebration of good harvest and enriching family connections. It also promotes global relations between Australia and Asia. Rooted in China’s Mid-Autumn tradition, SEA displayed diverse lanterns: “animals of the land and sea,” “guardians of the zodiac,” “ships of old trade routes,” “the giants,” “the spirit masks,” and “the celestial dragon.”
SONAHBS: Nagasaki Lantern Festival, Japan
Embodying the culture of the Land of the Rising Sun, SONAHBS casted lights with lanterns in theme with the Nagasaki Lantern Festival that originated from the time of Chinese settlers celebrating Chinese New Years in Japan to recreate the path Chinese sailing crews once used to enter the port. This festival features numerous cultural performances and activities, including parades, and lion dances. SONAHBS’ illuminated this festival through koi fish lanterns, pink colored water lilies, displaying two opposite presences the kitsune, a fox spirit that has the ability to shapeshift into a human and the oni that represents demonic creatures with great strength. Two blue dragons were placed in a boat-like float signifying Nagasaki as a port fishing town where early livelihoods in the said town bloomed.
BEdS: Hội An Lantern Festival, Vietnam
A cultural showcase of traditions from Vietnam was exhibited by BEdS through their array of lanterns in honor of the Hội An Lantern Festival. This festival is rooted in the ancient local Vietnamese tradition of viewing the full moon as a sacred time for rituals in tribute to their ancestors. Parts of their celebration includes making wishes while releasing lanterns on the Hoai River to symbolize prayers for a bright, happy, and peaceful life. BEdS graced the road with boat designed lanterns, green and yellow leaves, and small umbrellas. Their mother lantern is a boat with the image of the holy family emphasizing the strength of prayers and faith.
17th SLU Lantern Parade Competition Winners
Major Awards:
Champion : SEA
1st runner up : SOM
2nd runner up : BEdS
Minor Awards:
Street Performance
Best in Street Performance: SEA
2nd Best in Street Performance: SOM
3rd Best in Street Performance: BEdS
Field Performance
Best in Field Performance : SEA
2nd Best in Field Performance: SAMCIS
3rd Best in Field Performance: SOM
Special Awards:
EcoLantern Innovation Award: BEdS
Most Disciplined Group: SONAHBS
Most Colorful Group: STELA
Best in Illumination: SAMCIS
Best Rhythmic Accompaniment: SEA
Best in Mother Lantern: SOM
The 2025 SLU Lantern Parade showcased a variety of cultures across the globe, transcending boundaries and igniting unity. Through representation and global connections, the University continues to celebrate synergy linking traditions for one grandeur festivity that envelops diversity and interconnectedness. Beyond a visual spectacle, this cherished tradition strengthens SLU’s role not only as an academic institution but also as a vibrant cultural hub deeply connected to the heart of Baguio City and the wider world.
