Manila Broadcasting Co. (MBC) recently capped its Paskong Pinoy celebration by awarding the winners in its Ilaw ng Pasko lantern-making competition.
Estrella Carpio won the P100,000 grand prize with her traditional star-shaped parol made of discarded cigarette packs and bamboo sticks from old window shades.
Felicito Sentones copped second place for her star with 10 rays, surrounded by carolers — all made from colorful candy wrappers and pakpak lawin leaves.
In third place was Elena Wong, who used an array of waste items such as eggshells, fish bones, an NFA sack, plastic spoons and forks, straw, scraps of wood and old newspapers.
Runner-up honors went to Edwin Estudillo (using tahong shells, dried coconut, palapa, and corn husks), Ricardo Maturan (using scrap wood and bamboo, corn husks, pineapple, coconut, and dried roots), Joselito Maninga (using assorted plastic bottles and caps), Gaspar Cruz (using old compact discs and Styrofoam cut-outs), Leo Pablo Salenga (using plastic bottles, styro cups, old magazines, and milk cans), Elizabeth Saquido (using various parts of the coconut tree mixed with dried banana leaves, mahogany fruit, and lubi-lubi), and Joseph Cristobal (using discarded packaging for pancit bihon, cartons, and pieces of bamboo).
The lanterns are on display along the facade of Star City and may be viewed until the end of the holiday season as inspiring models of what recycling can do for decorative art.
MBC’s Paskong Pinoy celebration was supported by Smart Buddy, Ladies’ Choice, Biogesic for Kids, Alaska, Dunkin’ Donuts, M. Lhuillier, Elasto Seal, Yakult, and Purefoods Fiesta Ham.