Nationwide parol-making contest launched

Create a lantern (parol) that showcases your province's creativity and culture and get a chance to bring home PHP100,000, according to a report by Philippine News Agency.

On its official Facebook page, the Office of the President (OP) announced that it has partnered with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to launch a nationwide parol-making contest that aims to highlight Filipino ingenuity and culture.

Dubbed "Isang Bituin, Isang Mithiin: A Nationwide Parol-Making Competition", the contest gives winning contestants a chance to be featured in the Malacañang Palace's Christmas Tree and win other exciting prizes.

Mechanics of the competition are as follows:

• This contest is open to all Filipino individual or group (maximum of four members).
• The parol entry must be made with at least 70 percent endemic materials from the Philippines.
• It must have lighting. however, live fire is not allowed.
• It must be 2 feet in diameter with about 35 percent of the diameter in thickness (at its core)
• It must be able to withstand any type of weather.
• Local government units must submit their selected parol entry to Malacañang on or before Nov. 14, 2022.

Entries will be judged according to compliance with parol specification (30 percent); use of endemic materials (20 percent); craftsmanship (25 percent); and creativity (20 percent).

The first place winner will get PHP100,000, the second place winner PHP75,000, and the third place winner PHP50,000.

All winners will also receive laptops and will be featured on state-run Radio Television Malacañang.

The national winners will be revealed on Dec. 3 during the Christmas Tree Lighting Event at the Malacañang Palace.

LGUs interested to join the contest may address inquiries to sosec@malacanang.gov.ph.

A parol is a star-shaped lantern unique to the Philippines. It symbolizes the star of Bethlehem that guided the ‘three kings’ to the place where Jesus Christ was born.