Manila: Pinoy Pasko Parol
Colorful Capiz Parol
Christmas starts early in the Philippines. At the onset of the ‘ber’ months, I won’t be surprised to hear Christmas Carols playing at some establishments, even local radio stations. With Halloween ending, I noticed yesterday that the Halloween displays were quickly being put down to be replaced by the bright and sparkling Christmas decors. Yes the season has started already and the distinct Filipino Icon of Parols will be hanging again.
Capiz Parol Star
If Americans have their Christmas tree, the Philippines have the Parol as our official symbol. It is shaped as a star which symbolizes the guiding star in the Nativity of Jesus. It also means the light prevailing over darkness and Filipino’s spirit of hope and goodwill for the season.
Parol Maker
Traditionally made of bamboo and paper, it has evolved with use of other native materials such as capiz and inclusion of electronic blinking lights. Each parol is handcrafted making each one unique. With this, electronic Parols costs about 1200 to 5000 pesos depending on the design and size of the Parol. Parol vendors lines up the various streets now in Manila giving quite a kaleidoscope of colors on an otherwise bland night streets in the metro.
Capiz Mini Lanterns
Christmas has always had a nostalgic feel for me. Maybe because of happy childhood memories associated with it, but as we grow old, it seems to be more about the list of gifts for people or moreso, thinking about the latest gifts for yourself. But seeing these Parols, blinking playfully at night reminds us of the fondness of the season.
Tags: Manila
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Monday, November 3rd, 2008 at 12:15 pm 
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November 3rd, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Seeing a parol once in one of those homes in the UK gave a warm feeling knowing that a Pinoy lives there. It’s so distinctively Pinoy.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Wow ganda ng mga parol. Yung kapit-bahay namin bumili ng kapis na parol… dahil sa mahal ng parol, di na nila inalis sa pagkakasabit kahit tapos na holiday season, sayang naman daw kung sandali lang mapapakinabangan every year.
Ilang days na lang pasko na uli! yey!
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
ramdam na ang christmas sa mga pictures mo ferdz. ganda ng mga parol na yan. sarap tingnanhabang dumadaan sa daan. one very good and practical tip in buying parols is to buy them after the christmas season as prices go down. we were able to buy parols last year after christmas and we’ll be using it this year.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
wulferdz! namamasko po!
November 4th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Hi, Ferdz, do you have an encyclopedic (not artistic: i.e., framing is straight on) picture of a parol that you can donate to Wikipedia under CC-BY or CC-BY-SA?
November 4th, 2008 at 1:06 am
lapit na pala ang pasko. hindi ko pa namalayan kundi ko pa ito nabasa. advance merry christmas!
November 4th, 2008 at 2:19 am
ako mas gusto ko yong raditional na parol, made of kawayan saka papel de hapon
it brings back childhood memories!
November 4th, 2008 at 3:40 am
ganda ng mga parol… lapit na pala ang pasko.. ^_^
November 4th, 2008 at 9:02 am
I forgot about this part of xmas in the Philippines. Sometimes, I think the holidays here in the states is not as fun as the ones in the Philippines.
November 4th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
i personally have not experience putting up a lantern made out of capiz. =) someday baby, someday. =)
November 4th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Naku Ellen, I guess when you’re out of the country for sometime a sight of this parol hanging on someone’s home will bring you back home.
Onga naman ano Eds. Hehe. Sulitin ang parol.
Magandang idea yan Dom. Will try that this year
Oggie, eto piso. hehe
Eugene, I’ll pick something you can use for the wiki and email you.
Erick! Advance merry Christmas din.
Iba pa rin yung traditional Parol Nina. Mas lalo na kung home made.
I get that idea as well Shoshana. My cousins would prefer I go there in summer than winter since it’s boring there in winter.
Ako rin Paoruiz. I think meron kami dati but that was a long time ago. Hope to hang a new one din.
November 5th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
advance merry xmas Ferdz! hehe. madami rin akong nakitang ganito parol noong napadaan kami sa Pampanga. very-Pinoy ang mga parol na ito. galing.
November 8th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
When I was in the Philippines two years ago for Pasko I saw the Parols for the first time. I wondered what it was until my Filipino friend explained what it was and the symbolism it brings to the people. Interesting naman.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
miss q narin ang pasko sa pinas. tnx for posting this article. nice advance merry x-mas po…