Iloilo City to shine with 1,600 parol

FILE: PAROL. Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) work on the remaining parol that would line the city’s streets, in time for the lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 16, 2019). More or less 1,600 lanterns have been prepared by the PDLs for the Christmas parol project, which is a private sector-led initiative. (PNA photo by Perla G. Lena)

ILOILO CITY — Iloilo City will shine brighter this Yuletide season when more than 1,600 colorful lanterns (parol) lining the stretch of its national highway and city roads, light up on Saturday night.

Under a public-private partnership, more or less 150 establishments answered the call of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) – Iloilo and the Zonta Club of Iloilo City II to decorate the city with the traditional Filipino Christmas lanterns.

The city government, through its City Engineer’s Office and Task Force Boltahe, on the other hand, worked round-the-clock to install the lanterns.

What started as 1,000 parol increased to 1,500 and further to about 1,600 as of November 15.

A PCCI official said they believe that the project is one of a kind in the country.

One parol measures 6 ft. by 6 ft., is made of bamboo and plastic charol or shiny colored paper and is fitted with a light bulb.

“The spirit of this parol project is really very significant. There is really public and private cooperation, which shows that in Iloilo, we are united.

The spirit to help is really there,” said lawyer Jobert Peñaflorida, PCCI-Iloilo president.

“The parol project is an inclusive collaboration of all sectors in society. Meaning, there are unity and diversity,” said Alma May Tayo of the Zonta Club of Iloilo City II.

As the city shines brighter, the public has been reminded not to forget the people living inside the high-walled facility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology – Iloilo City District Jail male dormitory in Ungka, Jaro who labored to make the parol project a reality.

The city government and the private sector tapped the prisoners to craft the parol designed by Vidette Ong of the Zonta Club.

“Our PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) — they are the lost, the least, and the last in society. At least this time, when we are on (the) street and we see the parol, we can say that our inmates are part of making this city brighter and merrier this Christmas,” Jail Warden Supt. Mary Chanette Espartero said.

As of November 15, the facility has 883 inmates, most of whom are facing drug-related cases.

Espartero said that even if they are in jail, “they have a purpose, and this time (it) is to help make Iloilo City brighter this Christmas.

”

“We are one with the city government. We look at the parol as a symbol of unity,” she added.

Meanwhile, out of the PHP1,500 budget for each parol, PHP900 went to labor and materials.

“Most of our PDLs can benefit from this parol-making. Whatever proceeds, a part of it goes to their family, which means that they will really have a merry, merry Christmas,” she said.

The Inmates Visitors Association, composed mostly of the wives of the PDLs, bought the materials, she said.

Inmate leader Bernard Pampag said each of their 19 dormitories picked a maximum of five members to help. While they have no formal training, they had an idea on how to craft the parol.

Pampag said that their work eased boredom inside the facility because once focused on their craft, they did not notice the time pass by. He said they were very happy with the project, their biggest so far.

“This is now the fruit of our being obedient inside the jail. We are thankful that we have a warden who always thinks of our welfare and is supportive of us,” he said.

Espartero said PDLs are trained to be self-reliant. They are equipped with skills that they can use for their livelihood when they leave prison someday.

“With this livelihood program, they would be able to sustain their famil(ies) once they are outside.

We help them find a legal source of livelihood so they won’t be tempted to sell drugs anymore, and (engage in) other crimes,” she added.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas lauded the program, citing it as “a very good example of public-private partnership.”

“It gives us reason to be united,” Treñas said, adding that the different colors of the parol signify their various political orientations, yet they remain as one for the city.

Dr. Sandra Sarabia-Gomez, PCCI-Iloilo chairperson, said the support of the private sector has been “overwhelming.”

“What started as an idea from a family lunch has spread all throughout the city and is now being embraced by every Ilonggo,” Sarabia-Gomez said.

At 6 p.m. on November 16, the lanterns will be lighted in a ceremony at the Iloilo City Hall, she said.
The parol will be kept until the end of January 2020 as the city welcomes guests for the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival and the Chinese New Year celebration.