10 December 2013 - The Philippine Embassy conveyed the message of thanks from President Benigno C. Aquino III and from the Filipino people to the editors-in-chief of Poland’s two largest daily newspapers by giving each of them a “parol” or star-shaped Christmas lantern made from San Fernando, Pampanga.

In her separate meetings with the editor-in-chief of Rzeczpospolita Mr. Boguslaw Chrabota and with the editor-in-chief of Gazeta Wyborcza Mr. Adam Michnik  today, Philippine envoy to Poland Ambassador Patricia Ann V. Paez expressed her profound appreciation to the editors’ huge support for having published full page last November 12, the Embassy’s appeal for assistance for the victims of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and request for donations to the Philippine Red Cross.

Through Poland’s former Deputy Prime Minister Atty. Roman Giertych, Mr. Chrabota requested Ambassador Paez to write an open letter of appeal to the people of Poland. Mr. Chrabota said that it was his “moral duty as a human being” to support the Philippines during its time of need. The same letter of appeal was published by Mr. Michnik who told the Philippine envoy that his support was his “moral obligation as a journalist and as a human being.”

Ambassador Paez informed Mr. Michnik that the Filipinos’ tradition of hanging the parol on the windows of their homes began many years ago, when there was no electricity yet. In the olden times, the parol was lit with candles to light their paths during the ritual dawn masses called “simbang gabi.” The design of the “parol” evokes the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Kings to the manger. Mr. Michnik said that he will hang the “parol” in the office of Gazeta Wyborzca. END