PH Parols Light Up Christmas in Xiamen

Mr. Bong Antivola (left) receives the certificates of appreciation and participation from Consul General Julius Caesar A. Flores (right) during the Filipino Association in Xiamen’s Christmas Party at the Kempinski Hotel, Xiamen City on 08 December 2018. The parol designed by Messieurs Antivola and Allan Vibar was declared the first prize for the Consulate General’s first Parol Making Contest 2018. (Xiamen PCG photo)

XIAMEN 08 December 2018 – To showcase the traditional Philippine Christmas parol using affordable and environment-friendly materials, the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen recently launched the first Parol Making Contest in December 2018 themed “Paskong Pinoy Galing sa Puso” to welcome the Christmas season in Xiamen. It was open to all Filipinos in Fujian and Jiangxi Provinces.

The contest aimed to showcase the traditional Philippine Christmas parol using affordable and environment-friendly materials. The Consulate General considered it is vital for Filipinos to continue the age-old tradition of parol-making, even in foreign lands, and which would inspire the Filipino youth to imbibe the same tradition.

The winning entry was a traditional parol with an intricate design made of recycled indigenous and environment-friendly materials with a Belen (Nativity) at the center made by Bong Antivola and Allan Vibar, both Filipinos working in Xiamen. The winners were announced during the Filipino Association in Xiamen’s Christmas Party held at the Grand Ballroom, Kempinski Hotel, Xiamen City on 08 December 2018.    

The Consulate General will continue to hold similar undertakings to promote Philippine culture to the general public in Fujian and Jiangxi provinces as part of its cultural diplomacy thrusts. END

For more information, visit www.xiamenpcg.dfa.gov.ph.