Pinoy parols light up Bangkok, two other foreign cities
12/19/2010
The native parol (Christmas lantern), like the talented Pinoy, is well on its way to conquer the world, with some 100 parols from Pampanga province now lighting up Thailand's capital Bangkok even as two other foreign cities are getting set to light up their own Pinoy parols this Christmas season.
The colorful lanterns, which were simultaneously lit in a lighting ceremony in Bangkok last December 9, were provided by the office of San Fernando city, Pampanga Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, who was the special guest at the ceremony.
San Fernando city, which boasts of a major Christmas lantern industry and holds an annual Giant Lantern Festival every December, is considered as the country’s parol capital.
Philippine Ambassador Linglingay Lacanlale joined officials of the Royal Thai government, members of the diplomatic corps and the Filipino community in Thailand, at the lighting ceremony — a historic first in Bangkok according to the Department of Foreign Affairs in its website.
It is not the first time that the parol has been used in other countries.
In 2006, the Philippine Embassy in Vienna held a ceremonial lighting of 60 parols in the Vienna City Hall Square. Parols can now be seen in the annual Vienna Christmas Market. In San Francisco, California, an annual Parol Festival has been held since 2003.
Although its name comes from the Spanish farol, the parol is recognized as the Philippine Christmas lantern.
The star-shaped paper lantern, in part times popularly used to light the path for the ritual dawn mass called Misa de Gallo, is now a favorite local Christmas decoration hung in homes as well as public places, and now not just in the Philippines but increasingly, wherever there are Filipinos.
Proud to be Filipino
At the Bangkok ceremony, Lacanlale explained to the guests what the parol means to Filipinos, saying the parol is an excellent example of Filipino creativity and ingenuity.
The DFA quoted a Filipino teacher who came all the way from the northeastern province of Pithsanulok to witness the event as saying, "I have never felt proud as a Filipino as I do now."
"For the first time in my more than 20 years of living in Thailand, the Embassy shines so brightly with the parols serving to remind us and our Thai friends about a unique aspect of our Christian tradition," the unnamed teacher said.
After the lighting ceremony, the guests were treated to a reception that featured traditional Filipino dishes like lechon (roast pig) and favorite delicacies like puto bumbong (rice cakes baked in bamboo tubes).
The Embassy plans to make the parol-lighting ceremony a yearly event.
Next year, it hopes to display the lanterns in Sukhumvit Road, the main thoroughfare fronting the Embassy.—With Carmela G. Lapeña/JV, GMANews.TV
The colorful lanterns, which were simultaneously lit in a lighting ceremony in Bangkok last December 9, were provided by the office of San Fernando city, Pampanga Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, who was the special guest at the ceremony.
San Fernando city, which boasts of a major Christmas lantern industry and holds an annual Giant Lantern Festival every December, is considered as the country’s parol capital.
Philippine Ambassador Linglingay Lacanlale joined officials of the Royal Thai government, members of the diplomatic corps and the Filipino community in Thailand, at the lighting ceremony — a historic first in Bangkok according to the Department of Foreign Affairs in its website.
It is not the first time that the parol has been used in other countries.
In 2006, the Philippine Embassy in Vienna held a ceremonial lighting of 60 parols in the Vienna City Hall Square. Parols can now be seen in the annual Vienna Christmas Market. In San Francisco, California, an annual Parol Festival has been held since 2003.
Although its name comes from the Spanish farol, the parol is recognized as the Philippine Christmas lantern.
The star-shaped paper lantern, in part times popularly used to light the path for the ritual dawn mass called Misa de Gallo, is now a favorite local Christmas decoration hung in homes as well as public places, and now not just in the Philippines but increasingly, wherever there are Filipinos.
Proud to be Filipino
At the Bangkok ceremony, Lacanlale explained to the guests what the parol means to Filipinos, saying the parol is an excellent example of Filipino creativity and ingenuity.
The DFA quoted a Filipino teacher who came all the way from the northeastern province of Pithsanulok to witness the event as saying, "I have never felt proud as a Filipino as I do now."
"For the first time in my more than 20 years of living in Thailand, the Embassy shines so brightly with the parols serving to remind us and our Thai friends about a unique aspect of our Christian tradition," the unnamed teacher said.
After the lighting ceremony, the guests were treated to a reception that featured traditional Filipino dishes like lechon (roast pig) and favorite delicacies like puto bumbong (rice cakes baked in bamboo tubes).
The Embassy plans to make the parol-lighting ceremony a yearly event.
Next year, it hopes to display the lanterns in Sukhumvit Road, the main thoroughfare fronting the Embassy.—With Carmela G. Lapeña/JV, GMANews.TV
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