SM City Pampanga illuminated the night sky of San Fernando on 29 November with the lighting of the Pampanga Eye as the mall marked the annual “Biggest Lantern of Hope.”

The Pampanga Eye, which stands 65 meters (213 feet) tall, displayed thousands of synchronized LED lights timed to beloved Christmas melodies. The spectacle was capped by a fireworks show that drew crowds to the mall grounds.

A mall official said the City of San Fernando — known as the Christmas capital of the Philippines for its giant parol exhibitions and holiday attractions — is the ideal home for the annual lantern celebration.

The “Biggest Lantern of Hope,” now in its ninth year, has become one of Pampanga’s most anticipated holiday traditions. The event transforms the iconic Ferris wheel into a massive lantern display and doubles as a charity project supporting children in Mexico, Pampanga through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.