“Ber” months kick off parol making business

CEBU, Philippines - The “ber” season is the time of the year when most people are excited about the Christmas celebration. On the interesting side, this also means a busy time for Christmas lantern or parol makers who take advantage of the holiday season to earn money.

A neighborhood in Cebu City has been known to be a place where several local residents make traditional Christmas lanterns. Lanterns especially the star-shaped ones symbolize the Star of Bethlehem where Jesus Christ was born.

Around seven families in Sitio Panaghiusa in Barangay Guadalupe have been engaged in the parol business for years already.

The FREEMAN visited the said barrio to see how these families spend the “ber” months to make profit.

Parol business

“Dugay na kaayo mi aning negosyoha ug mao na ni nahimong source of income namo kada panahon sa Pasko,” 56-year-old Efren Caballes said while he was making the framework of the lanterns.

He shared that his family started the parol making enterprise when they realized the need to have extra income amid life's difficulties.

“Kaniadto pa man, naa nay nanghimo dinhi og mga parol. Unya, sunod-sunod na 'to nga ubay-ubay nang mga pamilya nga nanghimo og parol. Usa na mi nila,” Caballes said.

He said they had a capital of P10, 000 to P15, 000 which they loaned to start the business. Until now, lucrative lantern selling has given the family and other vendors in the barangay the financial resources for their needs.

As early as September, the Cebuano maker starts assembling the frames of different sizes for the lanterns. He, together with his production assistants, does this early to meet the strong demand of the product during the Yuletide season.

The helpers who are mostly his neighbors and relatives do the attaching of “charol” (the colored sheets) on the bamboo frames and the finishing touches. The small business allows the owner to give local people jobs that they earn from.

Caballes explained assistants are paid at least P3 – P5 for every parol they can finish. The money is given in December when all products are expected to be sold out. Arlyn Abergonzado, one of the helpers and the man’s niece, said her making of parol has given her money for daily needs.

“10 years nako ani nga trabaho sukad pa pagkabata nako, unya dako pud ni natabang sa ako mga needs ug sa family,” the 23-year-old woman said.

Tedious job

Making conventional lanterns may only need few materials – such as bamboo sticks, “alambre” wires, “charol” sheets and adhesive – but the process is definitely tedious and not easy.

“Kining among trabaho paghimo og mga parol kuti kaayo ni nga buluhaton,” he noted. “Pero, ang nakanindot lang kay malipay mi dinhi nga manghimo og parol. Nakahatag pud siya og kalipay sa mga residente.”

Caballes’ parol shop starts delivering the homemade products in November to market vendors in the city downtown area’s Freedom Park near the Carbon Market.

From September to December, the Caballes clan could produce a minimum of 400 pieces of lanterns of all sizes. The family also directly sells the products at a lower price to walk-in customers in the shop, community residents and even to businesses.

The man, who also works as painter during off-season, said Christmas lanterns are still very in-demand until now despite the existence of new adornments available in the market.

Supplying firms

Another parol maker in the sitio is the Gabutan family who has been supplying lanterns to mall and hotel companies in Cebu every year. 

This family starts the parol production as early as July through December so they can produce more.

Wilma Gabutan, a 47-year-old mother, shared her family and fellow lantern makers have been dependent on the seasonal venture for their financial needs during the holiday.

Gabutan also supply star-shaped lanterns to lantern shop operators and sellers in the Freedom Park. Her lanterns sell at P25 for the 12 inches size, P50 for the 18 inches parol, P100 for regular size and P130 for the largest lantern.

Parol vendors and also suppliers sell their products with standard mark-up price of 30 percent to regain operational costs.

The woman told The FREEMAN a lot of local vendors bringing side cars troop to their shop starting October to buy lanterns. These vendors also offer these to the buying public in various parts of the city – particularly outside schools and offices.

Lantern makers said orders from different buyers start to come in as early as September through December when the demand significantly hikes.

They added that despite the seasonal nature of the business, such kind of venture has helped average-earning families to grow their resources and improve their creative skills.  (FREEMAN)