Videos

News coverage by Bilyonaryo Agenda News of the 23rd Parol Lantern Festival in SoMa Pilipinas San Francisco

Simbang Gabi and the parol are deeply intertwined in Filipino tradition: the dawn masses symbolize spiritual preparation for Christmas, while the parol lantern lights the faithful’s path and embodies hope, faith, and communal creativity. Together, they form a ritual of devotion and cultural identity.

Trailer of Annual Parol Lantern Festival

I started producing this type of lanterns (complete with five-point star bamboo frame, with fairy lights inside, and tails/skirts of tissue paper) in 2022. This was my response to the post pandemic and the so-called new norm. For me, it captures the essence of Naked Star Lantern, hard work and simple living, but being soulful and colorful, even during Christmas.

Naked Lantern (Hubad na Parol) as an Anti-Corruption Symbol
The massive anti-corruption movements in our homeland (Philippines) and the recent nationwide mobilizations from EDSA to Luneta, from major towns and cities, from all walks of life, intergenerational and multi-sectoral, are about exposing what is hidden- laying the systemic and structures of greed, power-hungry, and abuse.
--A naked lantern parallels this: it refuses ornamentation that hides flaws, insisting on transparency and accountability.
--Just as Advent calls for repentance and readiness, the lantern calls the nation to purify its institutions, strip away corruption, punish corrupt officials and their cohorts, and let truth shine through.
Advent waiting = People's vigilance and resolve to end corruptions. Both require patience, endurance, and collective hope.

Lighting a five-star lantern with fairy lights is easy to learn.

The most demanding aspect of creating a parol is not the construction of its frame, but rather the process of covering it. This stage requires thoughtful selection of decorative materials such as paper, cellophane, fabrics, or vinyl, as well as careful consideration of colour combinations, design elements, motifs, and individual artistic expression. Although challenging, this phase is also highly rewarding and enjoyable.

The initial phase in constructing a parol lantern, specifically a five-pointed star, involves assembling the frame. Required materials include ten bamboo sticks, five pegs, mini rubber bands, a hot glue gun, and glue sticks. The process begins by creating two identical five-pointed stars.

Creating the tail or tassels is a significant aspect of parol making. This process is comparable to Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding; Papel Picado, the Mexican tradition of paper cutting; and closely resembles the Filipino craft of Pabalat. Among parol artisans, the tails are referred to by various names, including buntot, palda, borloloy, and tassels, symbolizing the rays of the star. Precision and attention to detail are essential when cutting the tails—achieving results is optimal when cuts are made as close as possible to the edge of the paper.

Parol serves as a symbol of light. With or without illumination, the parol is regarded as representing lights and hopes. At SoMa Pilipinas in San Francisco, parol making workshops typically use a three-step process: 1) building the star-shaped frame, 2) covering the frame, and 3) adding decorations such as tails and tassels.
Located in San Francisco's Filipino Cultural Heritage District, SoMa Pilipinas offers parol making workshops alongside the city's Annual Parol Festival, first held in 2003. The step-by-step instructions for parol making have evolved over time; this video presents a method developed based on local supplies and materials.

CLTV 36 Sonia Soto interview of MC Canlas