17/12/2025
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UP Lantern Parade: A Tradition of Light, Creativity, and Voice
Every December, the University of the Philippines glows with colors, music, and excitement as the community gathers for the annual πππ£π©ππ§π£ πππ§πππ - a tradition that celebrates creativity, unity, and the UP spirit.
In 1934, the first Lantern Parade lit the streets of the University at Padre Faura under President Jorge Bocobo, inspired by the Filipino custom of carrying lanterns when attending ππͺπ΄π’ π₯π¦ ππ’πππ°. When UP moved to Diliman in 1949, the parade grew bigger and more festive. Student organizations, college departments, and other members of the UP community showcased dazzling lanterns and floats, marking it as a major Christmas celebration that eventually became a tradition across UP campuses.
Over the decades, the parade has reflected the character of UP students. From the 1930s to the 1950s, the π₯ππ§π€π‘ remained the central theme. In the 1960s, there was a rise in creative protest and pageantry. Notable figures such as Boots Anson Roa (1961) and Beauty Queen Nelia Sancho (1969) were crowned as Lantern Queens, while Lantern Kings emerged in the 1980s. However, these coronations were short-lived due to emerging gender sensitivity issues of which the University became aware.
During the 1970s and 1980s, the parade also became a stage for student expression and activism. Floats, lanterns, and performances were utilized by the students to highlight social and national issues, blending artistry with political commentary. Although the parade was paused during Martial Law, it resumed in 1977 under UP President O.D. Corpuz, maintaining both its festive and expressive spirit. By the 1990s, new ideas such as Ati-atihan, carnival acts, and high-tech float designs made the celebration even more vibrant and more artistic.
Today, the tradition lives on in a festive parade of lanterns and floats inspired by the yearβs theme. Groups compete for awards based on creativity, clever use of materialsβoften recycledβand how well their designs capture the theme. The celebration wraps up with the announcement of the best lantern, the UP Presidentβs Christmas message, and a much-anticipated fireworks display. This yearβs theme is βππ£π¦Μ-π’π£π¦Μβ, a Kapampangan word meaning ππ’πͺπ΄π’ in Filipino, which emphasizes unity and togetherness. The Lantern Parade serves as a shining reminder that UP glows brightest when its community comes together to celebrate and express itself.
References:
A Christmas tradition. (1996, December). UP Newsletter, 12β14.
College of Fine Arts [image]. (2016). UPDate Diliman, 22(6), p. 5.
Lantern Parade, PHS 193-02, University Archives
Lantern Parade photographs. (2003). Box no. 758, Librarians Office Records, University
Archives
Reyes, L. A.(2015). College of Engineering [image].UPDate Diliman, 21 (6), p.5.
The Christmas tradition at UPD. (2018). Paglaot, Pagdaong: Year-end Program 2018, 5β7.
The Lantern Parade: Once upon a wee morning. (1981, December 14). UP Newsletter, 7.
The University of the Philippines: A University for Filipinos (1984), pp. 62, 143.
U.P. traditions: A historical review. (n.d.). UP Newsletter, 94β95.
