Bringing Light To The Lightmakers

BY ROSE ANN DELA ROSA

To be a symbol of hope amidst the darkness: this is the dream of the craftsmen behind the Christmas lanterns who bring luminance and sparkle to our city streets– the parol makers

When it comes to the craft, the Kapampangans know it best. Known locally as “parol,” its sophisticated details lit in flashing sequences and shaped in a noticeable star design are sure to uplift the smiles of Filipinos during the festive season. Once the “Ber months” kick in, Pampanga, the Christmas Capital of the Philippines, ensure their bright and colorful parols get the outright recognition it deserves. During mid-December in the province’s capital, City of San Fernando, the towering works of beauty and creativity of parols take center stage with the most-awaited annual competition called the Giant Lantern Festival or “Ligligan Parul.”

Dedication to their work shows their discipline as their sales peak through regular commissions, even if it is not the yuletide season. Not to mention, they distribute these lanterns all over the Philippines and even across the globe, making Kapampangans unique in the lantern-making industry.

Derived from the Spanish word farol, meaning “lantern,” parol traces its roots in the old capital of Pampanga, Bacolor, where Spanish colonizers compelled the townsfolk to hold them in a street procession when electricity was not yet accessible. Townspeople traditionally flock to their local churches at dawn, Misa de Gallo, in honor of the Virgin Mary, “Our Lady of La Naval.”

The tradition of handcrafting parols went back to lantern-making pioneer Francisco Estanislao creating a star-shaped design out of bamboo sticks and papel de Japon (Japanese paper) illuminated with carbide or candle. Until the 1960s, their artistry went from simplicity to intricacy as they employed various materials like polychromatic lights, colored glass windows, batik textile features, and prismatic pinwheels, thus finally leaving the conventional style for good. Today, however, it has become significantly popular with the usage of translucent or stained capiz shells flattened and cut into precision with patterned light bulbs to produce the dancing light effect for adults and children to adorn.

For veteran parol maker Ronald Quiambao, who has been working for 36 years in the industry, parol making became a lifetime vocation, as he wishes to make these lanterns for Christmas for as long as he lives. It gives him joy to be able to teach the youth to continue the rich Kapampangan tradition.

On another perspective, Arnel Flores, five-time champion of the Giant Lantern Festival from San Fernando, hoped to return to the way they were before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the industry. The harrowing horror of the health emergency was a time of recurring financial losses because demands became low.

“Malaki ang epekto ng pandemya sa amin. Walang nagpagawa. Siyempre ‘yung mga trabahador natin kahit kaunti [ay] magbibigay tayo ng pang-ayuda. Kung tutuusin, puro palabas ang budget noong nakaraan. Ngayon, unti-unti na kaming nakakabangon,” he said.

Together with his son, Mark Flores who is now leading the new breed of lantern makers in San Fernando, expresses that it is futile to celebrate the spirit of the holiday without the parols.

While they aim to showcase the unsung Christmas spirit in the upcoming Giant Lantern Festival on December 17, 2022, their newest take on the creation of lanterns, specifically the introduction of waterproof fabric parols, refreshes the old style of parol making. It took them 10 years to perfect the said design built of sturdier material than the Capiz shells and plastic.

Lumiére

Jaira

Camille R. De Mesa (Jaijaijanai)

As I carelessly followed the path

The light slowly faded in my sight

While my cold lips fall silent

The shadows started to conceal the light

Falling deeper into darkness

I only felt more loneliness.

As I begin to drown from the sadness in my heart

While counting the days and nights apart

I almost lost sight of the path

But then I saw a sudden glimpse of light

Along with your voice that echoed in my heart

Singing the words, “It’ll be alright.”

At that moment I knew what I had to do

A way to make this growing sadness subdue

To escape the abyss of darkness

To find a way towards a world filled with brightness

To a place where I truly belong

Where I won’t ever feel alone.

Though the twinkle in my heart was but a tiny spark

Your voice was enough for me to start

Although it was different from what I imagined

I slowly raised my arms towards it

Gathering the courage to move forward

Without knowing what awaits beyond.

As long as you are here by my side

I’ll make my glittering hopes resound.

I’ll trace out the path of light together with you

Until our story’s prologue finally comes into view

Even if that day is still far away

We’ll continue to find a way.

Someday, I’m sure it will come true

So I’ll keep running together with you

And when we finally reach the light we seek

A momentous event that is truly unique

Though each of us may differ individually

We’ll be able to unite our feelings eternally.

Just how the universe is made of light

A lot of life shines brightly white

For the light that resides within our hearts

Shall dazzle like a starlight in the endless nights

Though each is a small, fleeting glow

If our hearts connect, our dreams will continue to grow.

Stink Bug

Menhera outspoken, they say; outspoken I am. your nonsense I shall put at bay; the mess you make I shall array. won’t let you put me in a jam.

Hypocrite

Xyandreiz Lacson (Axl)

I’d never be her because she tried to beat Aphrodite in a battle of beauty.

I’d never be him because he tried to fly

Higher than the sun in a hurry.

And I’d never be them because I’ll never be

Someone who hurts themselves trying; flying until I’m falling. Right?

Forever Lost, Eurydice

Asamafuyu

A letter filled with your stain. Emotions are hard to rein. I still patiently wait for you My Eurydice, my rue. Though I know, you already flew.

Newbie’s Fantasy

Lianna Philisa P. Miranda

Never had the adventure; Equipping myself like knights, Wishing I had the picture. Epic tales of tests and bites, Down the drain, all together. Great excuses in bright lights Enter a new bold venture.

Amanisaya

Darkness shrouds the feeble mind, Yet the soul still fights back; And from the cinders, a bright phoenix is born. The winds of fate are calling for you, And let your answer be heard..

:) I am scared, anxious, and worried. I don’t know why. But I believe that no matter what happens, he got me, He got me in all the things I do.

Grade A Student

Xyandreiz Lacson (Axl)

I’ve made the mistake of making this my label, And now I don’t define myself as anything else. I used to be defined; I am what I’m able. And for a while I was simply the best. But what do you do, if you’re not anymore? What if ‘trying’ can’t even get you to sail? The thing is if you fail at trying, you just kind of fail.

Cosmically Tragic Avocardio

The conspiration of the universe felt surreal, Like our galaxies didn’t have something to conceal As we trace promises under the constellations. Like the stars, they turned into a supernova of illusion. I’d be happy to create one more nebula of the same horizon.

Maybe this time, we’ll both be in a lifetime with the same dimension..

Kind and Cruel JC (Pinkfrog)

The world is kind enough to let me meet someone like you. Someone I’m willing to risk for, no matter what I’m going through. It is also cruel enough to make me realize I am not that someone for you. You said you loved me too, but was it even true?

Madaya JC (Pinkfrog)

Madaya ka, sapagkat ang akala ko’y tayo’y nasa parehas na pahina.

WHERE THERE’S LIFE,

Body Underneath the Ashes Number Four

Ashes were cascading down as we drown Into the abyss, disguising as an embrace. Let the time untie me from breaking down, And using useless masks from my headspace.

Beneath the Facade Saling Pusa

In an ebony-colored sky, I sit alone in silence and linger on my thoughts. I stare blankly at the visible wall cracks, resembling the invisible cracks etched in my heart..

My Once Upon a Time, but Never my Happily Ever After Avocardio

I don’t look like Snow White with porcelain skin. I’m not the loveliest like when Cinderella spins. I don’t have the most beautiful voice making birds sing. And I’m not as lovely as the rose you saw Belle holding. I’ll always be Tinkerbell while you have your own Wendy. And I’ll never be that girl who fits the shoes of the one you love truly. After all, our own fairytale was unsightly and clearly wasn’t meant to be. And using useless masks from my headspace.

Asher Michael B. Viray (Weaver of Word)

I’m not sure what tomorrow brings, And even if these eager wings... Will soon take flight but they still tremble, Yet these hopes could never crumble. For a long awaited dawn is near... And after all there’s nothing to fear.

Takot

Pero aabot Judea (Judea Cura)

Normal sa isang mag-aaral ang matakot. Matakot na mag-isa, matakot na sumubok, ngunit sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, pilit pa ring inaabot ang mga pangarap na minsa’y mapag-damot. Minsa’y napapakamot nalang sa ulo, mga katanungan sa aking sarili ay tila walang tigil, kung lahat ba ito ay may pagasang magka-totoo? Sa mundo na puro pang-iinsulto ng mga tao, mga pangako sa sarili ko’y baka ‘di na magka-totoo. Ngunit ano ba ang mas lamang? Ang matagal ko ng inaabot o ang kasinungalingang wala namang mai-aabot? Takot, pero ako ay aabot. Totoo, ito ay mahirap at minsa’y para nang malabo, ngunit ako ay may pangako at pangarap na aking ihaharap sa kinabukasang hinahanap.

White Ferrari

And this is how it starts. Remember our every wish, longing, hope, yearning; Finally, it comes with a bearing and to an end. We can finally see each other, and distance will never be a hindrance again. In the place where we lived all these times, laughed, fought, and smiled at each other, in our cherished university.

Kaya Mu Judea (Judea Cura)

Ala ku keni nung ali dahil kaya, kaya na memyeng biye kaku kening banwa. Mibayit kung ala ku dyang nanu, ala kung a pag-maragul dyang nanung matiryal pa, makamal ya man o ali. Ing biye a binye’t peparam na kaku ning atyu babo, mahigit ya pa keng mal/makamal a pulseras at gintu. Kareng oras na alang-ala ku, eka bitsang meko keng siping ku, pepakit mu kanaku nung ninu ka’t nanung agyu mung gawan. Anya dyang nanu ku man yeni, nokarin ku man at nanung atin ku’t ala, keka ku pa mu rin ngan itas ing egana-gana oneng keka la mu ngan rin menibat ing nanuman atin ku yeni ampo kareng datang a aldo, keng dulu ning egana-gana, kaya mu at kaya mu ngan isubli egana-gana.

Sinong Hipokrito?

Jaira Camille R. De Mesa (Jaijaijanai)

Heto ako ngayon, suot ang maskara na may inosenteng ngiti, Na para bang kamalayan ay kay puti Na kung tingnan ay para bang walang kaalam-alam Na para bang isa rin sa minamanipulahan Nitong mundong ating ginagalawan.

Ngunit sa likod ng maskara na aking suot Ay isipang nababalot ng salimuot

At nang ako’y tanungin “ngunit bakit parang may bahid ng pait ang iyong ngiti?” Walang halong biro na aking sinabi Nais mo bang malaman ang mga sikretong ako mismo’y saksi?

Simulan natin sa mga namumuno

Na buong bayan ay sa kanila umiidolo Mga mapagpanggap na tapat at totoo Gagawin ang lahat ng kanilang makakaya Upang sa mata ng tao’y magmukha lamang kaaya-aya.

Ngunit sa likod ng ipinagmamalaki nilang dangal Gaano na nga ba kalaki ang kanilang naisugal?

Mga hipokritong ginagamit ang kapangyarihan sa sariling kaligayahan Mga mamumunong nababalot ng kasinungalingan Mga kunwaring matuwid, baluktot naman.

Subalit sa mundong ating ginagalawan Hindi lang naman sila ang mapagpanggap Nariyan din ang mga naghihirap Mga naghihirap na hindi naman nangangarap Mga naghihirap na hanap lang ay perang ipupusta sa sugalan.

At pagdating naman sa usapang tulong at ayuda Kay galing gumawa ng kwentong nakaluluha Ipinapakita nila na dapat silang kaawaan Na sila ang tunay na nangangailangan Na sila lamang ang karapat-dapat tulungan

Ngunit sino nga ba iyong araw-gabing nakatambay lamang sa daan?

Sino nga ba iyong maghapong nasa inuman at sugalan? ‘Yung panay ang utang pambili ng sigarilyo’t alak? ‘Yung imbes na disenteng trabaho ang hanap, Pagbibisyo ang kanilang inaatupag.

Paano na lamang iyong mga dugo’t pawis ang isinusugal Mabigyan lamang ng disenteng buhay ang kanilang minamahal?

Bakit pagdating sakanila’y walang imik ang pamahalaan?

Bakit kapag sila na ang pinag-uusapan

Doon kayo nagbubulag-bulagan?

Ngunit sino ka ba para sila’y iyong kaawaan? Sapagkat ikaw mismo’y nananahimik lamang?

Patuloy na nagbubulagbubulag-bulagan sa katotohanan

Walang ibang inatupag kundi ang magkaroon ng magandang reputasyon

Iyon ba ang ipinagmamalaki mong ambag sa lipunan?

Ngayon ay sabihin mo sa akin ang sagot

Sa mundong ito, sino nga ba ang tunay na baluktot? Sino nga ba ang mas hipokrito? Ang Mahihirap? Mayayaman? Ikaw? O silang mga namumuno?

Sa mundong puno ng kasinungalingan ay alin pa nga ba ang totoo?

Well, a lot of publications seem to have given President Marcos a positive credit when it comes to reviewing his first 100 days in office. “Putting out fires” is what they described it. Personally, since PBBM’s win, I too gave President Marcos a chance at first and hoped for a pleasing development that our country desperately needed. As someone who will be just starting their life, I think now of his first 100 days as the “bare minimum”. Though a lot of us felt a much different approach from our newly-elected leader, I honestly feel that the 100 days is too early to tell. Those first months won’t reveal the overall competence of the administration for the next 6 years. Especially coming from a third-world country,

His first 100 days is uneventful and bland. To me at least, he focused more on his selfish whims than fixing his cabinet, or anything worthy of his time for that matter. Several storms passed and a lot of our people have suffered and yet he is out there watching F1 Grand Prix. The only thing I’ve heard he’s done is lifting the face mask restrictions, which I’m not sure is a good thing either. So to sum it up, his first 100 days is him acting like a spoiled child sitting at the top post of our government, what can go wrong?

Looking back on BBM’s first three months in office, I can’t recall any specific event that painted him in a positive light. This is because, rather than immediately convening a cabinet meeting to put his plans and “platforms” into action, he is either vlogging, traveling abroad, attending shows, or hosting parties in Malacañang. This happened as Filipinos continued to bear the burden of rising commodity prices. His first 100 days in office demonstrate that he only wants the privileges and benefits that come with being president but none of its actual responsibilities, and I don’t think he intends to change anytime soon.

?

I can state that after a hundred days of our president’s administration, I’ve noticed that product costs have gone up. I’m hoping that under his leadership, this issue will be resolved so that no Filipino not suffer at much.

What can you say on the first 100 days of President BBM?

To be honest, I’m quite disappointed. We rationalized that we could change the minds of those who do not believe him. But I should point out that we are correct. As far as I can tell, nothing happened to come of the previous promises. Inadequately, the Philippines appears to be losing hope of ever emerging as a country.

With all due respect to our president, his first 100 days is a hundred days of incompetence and inconsistency. He was well aware that the Philippines was facing an economic breakdown at the time of his victory after being voted by 31M Filipinos. Instead of fixing the economy and providing relief to millions of Filipinos affected by the crisis, he chose to focus on things that do not need urgent importance. Even though the majority of the world is facing a crisis, his efforts were not as strong and consistent to be felt by the majority resulting in a further decline in the economy and quality of lives of Filipinos. Filipinos were left regretful and suffering from the crisis alone. In addition, the country was struck by multiple typhoons but he prioritized his lavish lifestyle over being present to the communities that most need him.

According to President Marcos, such significant achievements were made within his first 100 days in office by bringing unity to the government, informing other countries that our nation is open for business, and just facing a plethora of societal issues from left and right. However, I think his first 100 days are just a clear representation of misplaced priorities, the romanticization of unity, and glorification of the Filipino people’s resiliency.

The accomplishments mentioned above are not achievements; thus, they are only the bare minimum as the highest governing leader of the nation. We need bold and concrete strategic plans, especially for our economy, and we’re unlikely to see it within the next succeeding days of his term. We’ve seen unclear policy directions and an apparent crystal prominence of Marcos’ family and the alliances of the elites.

Never in the service of the Filipinos but rather for the satisfaction of self-interest—this encapsulates President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first 100 days in office. Prior to winning the elections, he and his family made it evident that his primary purposes in pursuing the highest position in the land were to revise history, reestablish their reputation, and live ever so lavishly. These, along with his carelessness for the country and its people, became obvious after PBBM assumed office, with news about misplaced priorities and questionable actions surfacing. Examples of the current regime’s misplaced priorities include the lack of a Secretary of Health amidst the pandemic and no resolve on alarming inflation rates. On the other hand, questionable acts include using undisclosed funds for personal travels disguised as official visits.