Christmas ‘parols’ bring hope to Ilonggos this pandemic

Hundreds of colorful Christmas lanterns were again installed in selected areas in Iloilo City to usher this Christmas season and bring hope to Ilonggos amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry-Iloilo (PCCI-Iloilo) together with the Iloilo City government will bring back the Ilonggo Christmas Parol of Hope 3.0. this year.

Around 200 Christmas lanterns will be displayed along the streets of Diversion Road in Mandurriao district and Calle Real in City Proper district.

Although lesser in number, PCCI hopes that the parols will continue to inspire the public to rebuild and recover from the pandemic together.

“From 1,700 lanterns in 2019 to 700 lanterns in 2020, only two hundred parols will be displayed along Diversion Road and Calle Real. While fewer in number, the parols will continue to inspire all of us to rebuild and recover together.”

The Christmas parols were handcrafted by inmates at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and were recycled and refurbished from the old lanterns.

For this year, PCCI-Iloilo took the initiative of repairing the parols and will not ask any donations from other businesses in the metro.

The parols measure 6 feet tall and bear the Christmas colors of red, green and yellow gold.

According to PCCI, the official lighting ceremony of the parols will be on Nov 5, 2021 together with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and PCCI-Iloilo headed by chairman Dr. Sandra Sarabia-Gomez and president Atty. Jobert Penaflorida.

The project which started in 2019 is now on its third year of bringing hope to the Ilonggo community thru colorful parols. (ERS)