Lanterns of different shapes and sizes lined outside Lambana Park, all lit and ready to go. The theme for this year’s Parade was Philippine mythology, which was rich and colorful in itself. The colleges did a good job, though, in materializing their creative concepts. The blackened upper half of a winged woman was most likely inspired by a manananggal. The bright spherical one was a nod to the moon Goddess, Mayari. While the sarimanok-inspired lantern was a twinkling rooster of red, yellow, green, and blue.
“Ooh, that’s CHSS!” Stella exclaimed as the College of Humanities and Social Sciences paraded their sea serpent lantern inspired by Bakunawa. “Let’s go guys! Wohoo!” she cheered for her college.
“Are you sure it’s okay for you to be here? Shouldn’t you get ready for the performance?” I asked, looking at my roommate who was blending in with the crowd’s excitement.
