By Marjorie Gorospe
INQUIRER.net

LAS Piñas City is known for the bamboo organ and for their bamboo craft. No wonder, even during the Christmas season, some people prefer to have their lanterns be made by the residents of Las Piñas.
I recently met this group called Samahang Magpaparol ng Brgy. E. Aldana Las Piñas Inc. Violeta Santos formed and led this group. It is one of many organizations in Las Piñas that help people find livelihood.

I visited the group’s stalls. Each had something unique to display including the famous Parol or lantern which we often displayed in streets or in Filipino homes. During my visit, I was shown how parols are made.

Depending on the design, building a lantern starts with building a framework. The framework is made of bamboo. They cut the bamboo into thin sticks according to specific measurements. Then a star-shaped pattern is formed by connecting the edges. They then cover of the star-shaped framework with colored plastic. They also create a tail that is later attached to the lantern. It’s that easy. Parol makers eventually sell them for a reasonable amount.

Through the year, Santos said their group also gets orders from the buyers like car companies who request for specific designs.

For the residents of Las Piñas, the lantern is no longer just a Christmas symbol. It has also become a source of livelihood for some.