Pampanga State University Student Triumphs in Prestigious Design Contest
A talented BS Information System student from Pampanga State University has emerged as the champion of the Giant Lantern Festival 2025 Coffee-Table Book Cover Design Competition. The winning entry was created by Jyg Irish T. Paras, a resident of Maligaya Village, Barangay Dolores in the City of San Fernando.
Paras's design stood out among ten other submissions, all created to align with this year's GLF theme, "From San Fernando to the World." The judging panel praised his stunning, digitally hand-drawn festive cover for perfectly capturing the "quintessential yet exhilarating spirit of the Christmas season."
The Creative Mind and His Winning Vision
In an interview, Paras shared that digital art is his favorite hobby and pastime. He is a self-taught artist who enjoys imagining various scenarios and characters before bringing them to life on screen. His creative passions extend beyond digital art to include crafting, such as making costumes from recycled materials and creating miniature blades.
The winning design was born from an intricate story set in an imagined shop called "Joe's Paroels." Paras deliberately chose this quirky name, envisioning the owner, Joe, using a playful twist on words. The narrative follows Joe's grandson, Mark, who is deeply fascinated by his grandfather's skill in crafting parols (traditional Filipino lanterns).
"I began thinking of both a main story and a side story," Paras explained. "One scene shows young Mark riding on Joe's back as they enjoy a Lubenas procession, where performers carry parols on sticks. I even added a small comedic moment where a performer accidentally steps on a cat."
The illustration then transitions to show Mark as an adult, presenting a blueprint for a giant lantern to his elderly grandfather, who now uses a wheelchair. The scene depicts Joe's immense pride in seeing his grandson continue the family tradition. Mark forms a team to build the lantern, and after years of effort, the climactic moment arrives—he holds his grandfather's old facecloth and, with the push of a button, illuminates the brilliant giant lantern.
From Local Tradition to Global Icons
Paras's artistic vision seamlessly connected local Pampanga culture with global landmarks. He first imagined a vibrant Lubenas scene in Bacolor, complete with street vendors and lively performers. The artwork then shifts to the City of San Fernando, symbolized by the flyover and the San Fernando Cathedral.
"The road transforms into a reddish ribbon that forms the giant lantern I envisioned," Paras described. Inspired by the festival's theme, he incorporated simplified shapes of iconic global landmarks within the lantern's design, including The Statue of Liberty, The Colosseum, The Taj Mahal, The Pyramids of Giza, The Eiffel Tower, Christ the Redeemer in Rio, and the Rizal Monument.
Prize, Prestige, and the Upcoming Festival
As the winner, Jyg Irish T. Paras will receive the ₱20,000 grand prize. He is honored to be the second student to win this competition, following 23-year-old architecture student Mary Christine Garcia from Barangay San Jose, who won when the contest was launched last year.
The highly anticipated Giant Lantern Festival 2025 (Ligligan Parul) is scheduled for December 13, 2025, at Robinsons Starmills in San Fernando. The competing barangays include Bulaon, Calulut, Del Pilar, Del Rosario, Dolores, San Jose, San Juan, San Nicolas, Sta. Lucia, and Sto. Nino.
