Palace launches parol-making contest for LGUs

CEBU, Philippines — The local government units' creativity and sense of culture will be tested further with the staging of a nationwide “parol-making” contest.

This is initiated by the Office of the President along with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) dubbed as “Isang Bituin, Isang Mithiin.”

“Envisioning to highlight the craftsmanship of Filipino parol-makers from provinces across the country, the Office of the President (OP) along with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) invites all local government units (LGUs) to showcase their creativity and culture through Isang Bituin, Isang Mithiin: A Nationwide Parol-Making Contest.”

The LGUs’ entries will be displayed during the Malacañan Palace’s tree-lighting ceremonies. While the winning parol will be adorned on Malacañan’s Christmas tree itself on December 3.

Big cash prizes plus a laptop showcase also await the winners.

This contest is open to all Filipino individuals or groups of four with the LGUs being the ones to select their entries.

Each parol must be made with at least 70 percent endemic materials or those that are from the Philippines itself and has to be two feet in diameter with about 35 percent of the diameter in thickness for its core.

With unpredictable weather, the parols are also expected to withstand any type of weather.

Lighting for the parol is also a must, except for live fire.

LGUs are scheduled to determine provincial winners by November 14 and submit their selected entries to Malacañan on November 19 as judging had been scheduled on November 22.

The parols will be selected based on their compliance with the parol specification, use of endemic materials, craftsmanship and creativity. (FREEMAN)