Idle farmers earn income making parol

When you wish upon a star-shaped lantern this Christmas, you could be helping put food on the Filipino farmer’s table during the off-season.

Parol, as they are called here, are not at all popular in Indonesia but those that you now see hanging in big malls in Makati City and Muntinlupa City are designed by Indonesian artists.

What makes the huge parol lanterns more special is that they were made by Filipino farmers who want to earn some extra cash for the holidays since planting season ends before December.

The results are beautifully crafted and carefully designed lanterns that not only boost the business of parol-making in the Philippines but also provide extra income for the needy who do not have much to spend for the noche buena — a midnight Christmas feast.

Lily V. The of Maphilino International said their company has been in the business of lighting up malls in Makati City and other neighboring localities during the Christmas season for several years now.

The company has a number of loyal clients who avail of their parol and other mall-designing services every year, like the Glorietta Mall along Ayala Avenue, Makati City and the Alabang Mall in Muntinlupa.

The said Maphilindo’s parol measure more than three meters in diameter and are very special lanterns indeed for they are the products of Indonesian minds and Filipino hands.

"We are the artists and we design the ‘parol’ but it is our seasonal Filipino workers who actually make them," she told The STAR in an interview.

"I am very amazed. Filipinos have very good hands. Very skilled and very creative indeed," she added, admiring how Pinoys put their hearts and minds into everything they make.

Maphilindo’s seasonal workers, she explained, come from provinces like Leyte and Batangas where parol-making is a source of extra income during Christmas.

"Many of our parol-makers are farmers who cannot plant during this season. The job gives them an opportunity to earn," The said.

She said parol are not famous in Indonesia and all that can be seen in her home country during Christmas are lights that appear like wires.

These Christmas lights, she said, are beautiful at night but not during the daytime. "It’s all wires during the day," she said, laughing.

Parol in the Philippines, The said, are definitely to be admired as well as other holiday decorations like Christmas trees.

"They are beautiful at day and even more beautiful at night. Filipinos are very artistic. We have observed the art of Filipinos and we are amazed," she added speaking on behalf of other artists and the company Maphilindo.

This year’s masterpieces now hang in Glorieta and Alabang Mall where life-sized Moroccan lanterns hang gloriously, she said.

Moroccan parol, The said, are inspired by Morocco art, which is why one near the Rustan’s entrance in Makati City is called the Moroccan Princess Star — pretty, feminine and golden.