Calgary couple sells X’mas parol kits to raise funds for PH typhoon relief

Eric and Love Dizon’s parol-making kits have been flying out the door as the couple raises funds for victims of recent typhoons in the Philippines. SCREENSHOT

CALGARY, Alberta – Local residents Eric Dizon and his wife, Love, are selling “parol kits” for traditional Filipino Christmas lanterns to raise funds for thousands who have been left homeless by devastating typhoons that have hit the Philippines this year.

The Dizons say they know several families whose relatives in the Philippines have been affected by the calamities.

“We had an idea of making a parol kit, the Filipino Christmas lantern as a kit wherein people can buy it and families can make it, especially for this Christmas,” Eric Dizon told CBC’s Mike Symington. “What better way to have family gathered together and make this star, which symbolizes hope and peace,” he said.

Parol kit customer Girlie Salaido says the lantern reminds her of her childhood in the Philippines. SCREENSHOT

Love, says each kit has everything needed to make an authentic bamboo lantern and that it should take you around an hour to complete. “So, from wires to cardboard, we provide glue sticks to elastics … so, yeah, everything in a bag is complete with Christmas lights too,” Love Dizon told CBC.

The Dizons have sold more than 200 kits at $20 each, which are available to purchase through their Facebook page. The kits have been selling fast.

Eric Dizon says the pandemic lockdown inspired them to sell parol kits for their usual charitable fundraiser. SCREENSHOT

Girlie Salaido, who bought 10 of the lanterns, says constructing them takes her back to when she was a child in the Philippines.

“My son who basically grew up here [in Calgary] while doing it I’m sharing the stories of when I was young and so it just brings back all the fond memories from back home,” she told CBC.