Press Release
December 13, 2015

Las Pinas holds 10th Parol Festival

Living up to its name as Metro Manila's parol capital, Las Pinas City held yesterday (December 11) the 10th Parol Festival.

Led by former Senate President Manny Villar, Sen. Cynthia Villar and Las Pinas Rep. Mark Villar, the holding this year of the festival was marked with friendly competition and colorful festivities.

"Each year, we look forward to this event where we showcase the craftsmanship and creativity of three generations of Las Pinas parol makers. The festival helps us promote the livelihood of our people and also keeps parol-making an enticing venture for the youth," Cynthia Villar said.

The competing lanterns are on display at Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) in Pulang Lupa I, Las Pinas from 18 participants. A street dance competition among elementary school students was also held during the festival.

The festival was a brainchild of the lady senator as a way to attract attention to the city's parol makers.

When she was Las Pinas congresswoman, she convinced the lantern makers to organize themselves into the "Samahang Magpaparol ng Las Pinas." She also set up the Las Pinas Parol Center which serves as their training area.

"We have been holding this festival for a decade now; each year the festival was able to attract more tourists because our parol entries are more impressive, more grandiose than the last," she added.

Sen. Cynthia Villar said the festival also highlights the importance of environmental protection with the use of recycled materials such as shampoo sachets/bottles, cans, bottles, tetra packs, newspapers etc. and natural or indigenous materials such as coconut husk, dried leaves, feathers, shells etc. The frame of the lantern was made of bamboo.

Parol entries were judged according to the following criteria: ingenuity and resourcefulness, 30%; creativity, 25%; impact, 30% and technical skills, 15%.

The grand prize winner, Luzviminda Gallardo of Barangay Aldana, Plaza Quezon, Las Pinas CIty, got P20,000 cash. The second placer, Ronald Apuli received P15,000 cash. The third place went to Brgy. Zapote which was awarded P10,000 cash.

Winners in the street dance competition are the following: Group 3, CAA Elementary School-Annex and Gatchalian Elementary School, P50,000 cash; Group 2, Pamplona Elementary School-Unit 1, Zapote Elementary School and Talon 3 Annex, P30,000 and Group 4, Almanza Elementary School--Annex and Pilar Village Elementary School, P20,000.

News Latest News Feed