Robinsons Starmills Lights Up Christmas as Eight Barangays Prepare for Giant Lantern Festival 2026

The November 10 tree lighting and festival launch brought families, lantern makers, and community leaders together to welcome the Christmas season.

Robinsons Starmills Pampanga welcomed the Christmas season on November 10, 2026, combining its Christmas tree lighting with the launch of the Giant Lantern Festival 2026.

The celebration carried the message “Together for a Brighter Tomorrow” under the holiday theme “Paskong Pinoy: The Gift of Being Together.”

The gathering also introduced the eight barangays competing in the Giant Lantern Festival on December 19, connecting the mall’s Christmas celebration with San Fernando’s continuing lantern-making tradition.

Eight communities, one shared tradition

Mayor Vilma Balle-Caluag, the festival’s honorary chairperson, and executive committee chairperson Germinia Villanueva led the introduction of the participating barangays.

Defending champion Bulaon returns alongside Calulut, Del Pilar, Del Rosario, Dolores, San Jose, San Nicolas, and Sto. Niño.

Speaking in Kapampangan, Caluag emphasized that the barangays share a purpose beyond winning: preserving Fernandino tradition and culture, passing the craft to younger generations, and keeping lantern-making a lasting symbol of San Fernando.

Each participating barangay will receive a ₱400,000 subsidy from the local government to help support the construction of its giant lantern. Firefly Electric and Lighting Corporation remains the festival’s official lighting partner.

A celebration rooted in togetherness

According to the city’s announcement, this year marks the festival’s 118th year and the 19th year of partnership between San Fernando and Robinsons.

Robinsons’ OIC-Operations Director for North Luzon, Mildibert Binarao, attended the launch. The mall also donated learning equipment and materials to the CSFP Center for Arts, Learning, and Heritage, extending the celebration’s community focus beyond the Christmas display.

City officials joined the program, including executive committee co-chairperson Councilor Reggie “G4” David, together with Tino Dizon, Ate Kay Pineda, Jay Cuyugan, Mark Joseph Carreon, and Elmer Bengco. Members of the organizing committee and the Giant Lantern Festival Foundation, Inc. also attended.

For Robinsons Starmills, the evening brought its message of togetherness into a local setting: families gathering around a Christmas tree while communities prepared to share their craftsmanship with a wider audience.

With the festival launch complete, attention now turns to December 19, when eight barangays will bring their lanterns—and the work of their communities—to the competition.

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