Press Release

2nd Annual Parol Festival in Turkey kicks off with first ever Parol-Making Workshop in Istanbul

By Jackie Ong
Philippine Embassy-Ankara
December 9, 2015



A six-member team from the Philippine Embassy in Ankara conducted the first ever Parol-Making Workshop in Istanbul on 29 November 2015 at the Princess Hotel, Ortakoy, Istanbul.

With this year's Parol Festival's theme of "Ngayong Pasko, Nagniningning Tayo (This Christmas, We Sparkle)," more than 100 members of the Filipino community enthusiastically participated in the workshop which included a presentation on how to make parols and a live demonstration of parol-making techniques by the Ankara PE Team.

In her welcome remarks, Vice Consul Ericka Anna Abad thanked the members of the Filipino community in Istanbul for choosing to spend their well-deserved day-off learning how to make parols. She emphasized the significance of the parol to every Filipino, especially those overseas, and explained that the parol-making workshop in Istanbul is the kick-off activity of the yearly Parol Festival in Turkey.

The workshop showcased Filipino creativity, ingenuity and resourcefulness. It also encouraged camaraderie among participants who were singing and dancing to the tune of Filipino Christmas carols while constructing their parols. One of the participants, Ms. Elma Trinidad, even exclaimed, “Ang saya-saya! Para tayong nasa ‘Pinas pa rin”, to express how much she was enjoying the workshop. Ms. Carmen Martin, on the other hand, noted that the workshop shows how serious Ankara PE is in rendering services to the Filipino community in Turkey.

At the end of the workshop, Ankara PE encouraged participants to hang their parols in their homes not just as symbols of Christmas but also to promote the culture and industry of parol-making in the Philippines.

Consular services were also rendered at the sidelines of the Parol-Making Workshop in Istanbul.

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Concept Note:
PAROL


A paról is an ornamental, star-shaped lantern from the Philippines. This iconic symbol of Christmas for Filipinos is traditionally made out of bamboo and paper and comes in various sizes and shapes, but generally the basic star pattern which evokes the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Kings to the manger, remains to be the most dominant shape for a parol.

Parol also symbolizes the victory of light over darkness for Filipinos.

The origin of paról can be traced back during the Spanish era in the Philippines, when the Spaniards brought Christianity to the islands. Parols were initially used to light the way to church to faithfully attend the 9-day Simbang Gabi, which begins on the 16th of December, a devotion for petition of special favors. After coming home from hearing the mass, instead of putting away the lantern somewhere else, people would hang it outside the house.

Patterns of the paról evolved from the five-pointed paper star lantern originally crafted in 1908 by an artisan named Francísco Estanislao. His creation was made of bamboo strips covered with papél de japón (Japanese paper), illuminated by a candle or kalburo (carbide).

Traditionally, paróls have a star-shaped framework made of bamboo sticks which are then covered by colored pieces of either Japanese paper or crêpe paper. The most common form is a five-pointed star with two decorative "tails".

The lantern evolved into more intricate, lavish and brightly lit Christmas ornament. Aside Adding to the meaning of parol, the lantern also demonstrates the craftsmanship of Filipinos.

Many communities, such as villages, schools, and groups hold competitions to see who can make the best paról. Parol-making also become a source of livelihood of various communities in the country.

Nowadays, the materials used to make he parol range from plastic, shells, glass, beads, foil, feathers, hemp, leaves, seeds, soft drink straws, wood and even metal. They usually come in various sizes, from small, tinsel and foil lanterns to gigantic ones that are electrically lit at night, and may have one, three or more tails aside from the ubiquitous two.

Recent innovations from Pampanga include production of lanterns with electronic lights that can be programmed to produce a dancing effect, as is the use of LED rope lights, known as "flexilight" lanterns (leftmost photo). Parol made of Capiz shells (center and rightmost photo).

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PAROL FESTIVAL

In December 2014, the Embassy launched the first ever Parol Festival in Turkey to highlight the parol tradition in the Philippines. The festival is composed of a series of events namely, Parol-making Workshop, Parol-making Contest, Parol Parade and Parol Lighting aimed at showcasing the Philippines‟ "Parol" (or lantern) in Turkey.
This year's theme is "Ngayong Pasko, Nagniningning Tayo!" (in English, ‘This Christmas, we we will sparkle!)

The Parol Festival includes the following activities:

A. Parol-making Workshop
The workshop aims to preserve the long tradition of parol-making in the Philippines where it has become a livelihood program of various communities in the country. It will take the participants through the steps of designing, decorating and making sculptural parol structures. It is open for the Filipino Communities and friends.

This year‟s parol-making workshops will be held in Istanbul at Princess Hotel Ortakoy on 29 November 2015 at 1330H and another separate workshop in Ankara at the Embassy of the Philippines on 6 December 2015 at 1330H.

B. Parol-making Contest (Judging and announcement)

The parol making contest is a friendly competition between groups of Filipino Communities in Turkey. It aims to ignite „bayanihan‟ or team work as a Philippine value and showcase the Filipinos ingenuity in parol-making.

On 13 December 2015, from 1400-1600H at the Embassy of the Philippines, all submitted entries to the contest shall be judged by prominent personalities from the Turkish Government and Diplomatic Missions who were earlier selected as judges. The criteria for judging will aid the judges in their tasks. Following the judging, the announcement of the winners will follow.

C. Parol Parade
Parol Parade is by no doubt a beautiful way to showcase two of the most beautiful traditions of the Philippines – the Parol and the Parade.

A parade is a tradition in the Philippines which highlights a special event. It is also called public procession often accompanied by musical instruments played loudly while marching.
The parade symbolizes the journey of the Filipino Community in Turkey, being light-bearers to their respective Turkish households and corporate and individual employers – also reenacting the journey of the “Kings of the East looking for Jesus in Bethlehem.”

This year‟s parade on 13 December 2015 at 1600-1700H will begin and end at the Embassy
of the Philippines located at Kazim Ozalp Mah. Kumkapi Sokak no. 36, G.O.P. Cankaya,
Ankara. The Parade shall traverse the streets of Kumkapi, Karaca and part of Kehribar at
Kazim Ozalp Mahallesi (Please see parade route). Marshals shall direct the route of the
parade in coordination with the Ankara Police.

D. Parol Lighting
All parols formed will be installed/hanged at the Embassy garden with glittering lights and
decorative materials and simultaneously lit in a lighting ceremony. The parol lighting
countdown will be led by Filcom leaders of Ankara and Istanbul.