More than 1,600 colorful parols or star-shaped lanterns hanged along Iloilo City’s major thoroughfares were lighted simultaneously on Saturday, Nov. 16.
The ceremonial lighting of parols was held at the City Hall grounds. It was led by Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon and Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.
The 6×6-foot parols were handcrafted by persons deprived of liberty (PDL) of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJPM) in Brgy. Ungka, Jaro district.
The installation of the lighted parols was facilitated by the Christmas Lantern Committee created under Treñas’ Executive Order No. 67.
The committee is chaired by Dr. Sandra Sarabia-Gomez, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Iloilo Chapter chairperson.
Its Christmas lantern project provided some 100 BJMP inmates a good source of livelihood since they began working on the parols in September 2019.
Gomez thanked private companies for “generously supporting the project.”
The committee exceeded with its initial target of one thousand lanterns.
There have been requests, according to Gomez, to keep the parols until end of January 2020 as the city welcomes its guests for the much-anticipated Iloilo Dinagyang Festival and Chinese New Year celebration.
Aside from the parols, residents and visitors can also enjoy other Christmas attractions in the city.
Among these must-see attractions are the 40-foot Christmas Tree and the Enchanted Forest of Lights at Iloilo Business Park in mandurriao district. IMT
Photo courtesy of Bert Esposado
