The lantern industry owes its popularity to San Fernando lantern maker pioneers who evolved the parul from the simple wooden and paper star lanterns for the “lubenas” (procession) to the giant kaleidoscopic lanterns that the world marvels at, every December’s Giant Lantern Festival. The advent of electricity gave rise to the invention of the rotor by Rodolfo David; which is used to give the lanterns their amazing play of colors. Well-known parol makers include the Quiwas (led by Ernesto David Quiwa), Rolando Quiambao, Arnel Flores, and Jesus Maglalang. The Christmas capital of the Philippines has parul stores all over the city still selling traditional lanterns. The Dau Expressway exit is line with lantern stores, hawking paruls of all sorts—capiz, LED-lit, wire and plastic, and even “rope” lanterns.
Fascinating dive into the parol's evolution from simple rectangular lanterns to those elaborate electric displays in Pampanga. The detail about Francisco Estanislao creating the iconic star shape in 1908 really shows how cultural symbols get refined over time. I've always found it interesting how the diaspora keeps these traditions alive globaly, like that Vienna Christmas Market mention. Theres something powerful about a symbol that bridges precolonial lantern traditions with Catholic iconography.
https://tinyurl.com/parul-1
x-
4. PARUL (San Fernando)
The lantern industry owes its popularity to San Fernando lantern maker pioneers who evolved the parul from the simple wooden and paper star lanterns for the “lubenas” (procession) to the giant kaleidoscopic lanterns that the world marvels at, every December’s Giant Lantern Festival. The advent of electricity gave rise to the invention of the rotor by Rodolfo David; which is used to give the lanterns their amazing play of colors. Well-known parol makers include the Quiwas (led by Ernesto David Quiwa), Rolando Quiambao, Arnel Flores, and Jesus Maglalang. The Christmas capital of the Philippines has parul stores all over the city still selling traditional lanterns. The Dau Expressway exit is line with lantern stores, hawking paruls of all sorts—capiz, LED-lit, wire and plastic, and even “rope” lanterns.
-x
Fascinating dive into the parol's evolution from simple rectangular lanterns to those elaborate electric displays in Pampanga. The detail about Francisco Estanislao creating the iconic star shape in 1908 really shows how cultural symbols get refined over time. I've always found it interesting how the diaspora keeps these traditions alive globaly, like that Vienna Christmas Market mention. Theres something powerful about a symbol that bridges precolonial lantern traditions with Catholic iconography.
Thanks for the note - what a good insight.