Jyg Irish T. Paras, a second-year student from the Bachelor of Science in Information Systems (BSIS) program of Pampanga State University (Pampanga State U), emerged as the winner of the Giant Lantern Festival (GLF) 2025 Coffee-Table Book Cover Design Competition.
The competition was held last October 2025, and Paras was officially awarded on December 1, 2025, at the City Hall of San Fernando, Pampanga.
The winning entry of Paras, a self-taught artist from the BSIS program of the College of Computing Studies, features a digitally hand-drawn festive cover that perfectly reflects this year’s GLF theme, “From San Fernando to the World.”
“A thought or scene popped into my head while researching the history of the giant lanterns. A grandfather, Joe, a very skilled parol maker, inspired his grandson, Mark, to follow in his footsteps. The grandson was amazed by the intricate design of his grandfather’s creation,” Paras shared the inspiration behind his artwork.
The festival’s coffee-table book, first published in 2024 and featuring the rich history, challenges, and triumphs of the GLF, serves as a key branding material for the 2025 celebration.
“It was very; very surreal they called me on the phone early in the morning. I had no words, since I thought my drawing wasn’t that special, I just drew what came into my mind and just had fun,” Paras said.
This year’s competition required a cover design that highlights the evolution of Giant Lantern making from its early creation methods and major milestones to the challenges and contemporary efforts to preserve its intangible cultural heritage.
Photo credits: Jyg Irish Paras
