“Feel Pinas” Parol-Making Workshop Kicks Off Fil-Am Christmas Season in NY

The Philippine Consulate General in New York organized a “Feel Pinas” parol making workshop at the Philippine Center on 17 November 2018. Museum of Modern Art’s museum educator Francis Estrada (center) shows how to make the star using the bamboo material. (New York PCG photo)

NEW YORK 29 November 2018 – Highlighting the significance of the parol in Filipinos’ celebration of the birth of Jesus during Christmas, the Philippine Consulate General in New York, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism in New York and the Filipino School of New York and New Jersey, organized the “Feel Pinas” parol-making workshop at the Philippine Center on 17 November 2018.

Attended by children and their families and Filipino-Americans who have long been staying in the United States and wish to recall and revive the parol-making tradition, the workshop served as a prelude to the forthcoming parol-lighting ceremony and Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado in early December.

In his welcome remarks, Consul Arman R. Talbo shared brief a history on how the parol was introduced in the Philippines and how it evolved from a traditional to a more modern Christmas ornament and decor.

As Filipino Christmas traditions are suffused with religious symbolism, he shared the significance of the parol to Filipino homes as each family joyfully awaits Christmas celebrations. He added that the parol represents the star that appeared in the sky to herald the birth of the Messiah.

Tourism Attaché Susan de Mundo added that the Philippines has one of the longest and the most lavish display of parols during the Christmas season citing various sources of parol in the country including Pampanga, Sorsogon, and Laguna. She announced that the tourism office will assist in the display of parols at the Center to bring the colorful tradition to Fifth Avenue, Manhattan’s busiest thoroughfare especially during the holiday season.

Visual artist and Museum of Modern Art’s museum educator Francis Estrada, who is also a freelance educator of Philippine art and culture, led the workshop at the Center.

The “Feel Pinas” parol workshop is one of the four workshops by the Filipino School of New York and New Jersey headed by Founder Venessa Manzano. She announced that the three other workshops will be held in Jersey City, Queens and Bergen on 08, 09 and 15 December 2018, respectively. These areas are home to large Filipino-American Communities. END

Consul Arman R. Talbo welcomes the participants of the “Feel Pinas” parol-making workshop held at the Philippine Center on 17 November 2018. (New York PCG photo)

Department of Tourism in New York’s Susan del Mundo shares the regions in the Philippines which are famous on parol making. (New York PCG photo)

Families in New York participates at the “Feel Pinas” parol making workshop held at the Philippine Center on 17 November 2018. (New York PCG photo)

For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph / www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/.