Giant lanterns in Pampanga (Wikipedia)

The House of Representatives has unanimously approved on third and final reading Monday night, Sept. 18 a bill declaring the province of Pampanga as the Philippines' "Christmas Capital". 

The measure, House Bill (HB) No.6933, garnered 250 affirmative votes during plenary session Monday. There were neither negative votes nor abstention. 

HB No.6933 is the pet measure of Pampanga's very own House Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales, Jr. Gonzales represents the province's 3rd district. 

“The Christmas season here in the Philippines is made extra special every year by the kapampangans who take pride in their famous and vibrant tradition of lantern-making,” House Speaker Martin Romualdez said in a statement following the bill's thrid reading passage. 

The Giant Lantern Festival or Ligligan Parul is an annual festival held in mid-December in the San Fernando City,  Pampanga. The popular festival features a competition of giant parol lanterns. 

Gonzales reckoned that it's "only fitting that we formalize Pampanga’s legacy as the Christmas Capital of the Philippines now, as it continues to brighten the season of giving each year". 

He said the Pampangueños' excellent craftsmanship to honor the birth of Jesus Christ "surely contributed to the robustness of the local economy and the promotion of the province as a cultural tourism destination". 

Section 2 of the proposed law tasks the Department of Tourism (DOT) to include and feature the province as the Christmas Capital in its national and regional promotion programs.