NY ‘Feel Pinas’ parol workshop kicks off Fil-Ams’ X’mas fetes

Francis Estrada (center), museum educator at the Museum of Modern Art, shows how to make a Christmas lantern using the bamboo material, at the “Feel Pinas” Parol Making Workshop on Saturday, Nov. 17 at the Philippine Center in New York.  CONTRIBUTED

NEW YORK– Children and families of Fil-Ams who wish to recall and revive the Philippines’ parol-making tradition attended the “Feel Pinas” Parol-Making Workshop on Nov. 17 November at the Philippine Center here.

The Workshop served as a prelude to the forthcoming Parol-Lighting ceremony and Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado in early December. The event was hosted bythe Philippine Consulate General, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism in New York and the Filipino School of New York and New Jersey.

Consul Arman R. Talbo explained that the parol represents the star that appeared in the sky to herald the birth of the Messiah.

Families in New York participated at the “Feel Pinas” Parol Making Workshop held at the Philippine Center. CONTRIBUTED

Susan de Mundo, Tourism attaché, added that the Philippines has one of the longest and the most lavish displays of parol during the Christmas season.

Francis Estrada, a visual artist and museum educator at the Museum of Modern Art and 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 Venessa Manzano, founder of the school. She announced that the three other workshops will be held in Jersey City, Queens and Bergen on 8, 9 and 15 December 2018, respectively. These areas are home to large Filipino American communities.