Villar awards winners in Las Piñas Parol Festival

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Cynthia Villar, former DPWH chief Mark Villar and Deputy Speaker Camille Vilar recently awarded winners of the Las Piñas City annual parol-making competition, now on its 16th year, as part of their commitment to support its lantern industry which made the city Metro Manila’s parol-making capital.

Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, the senator acknowledged the continuing passion of Las Piñeros to create unique and environment-friendly parols that make Las Piñas lanterns stand out.

Villar said she is happy and proud that “we have once again risen up to the challenge of honoring our annual tradition and spread holiday cheer and hope this season.”

She led the virtual awarding ceremonies at the Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) Hall.

Awards went to the following participants of the annual parol-making contest: grand winner – Luzviminda Gallardo, P20,000; 1st runner-up – Idelfonso Esguerra, P15,000; and 2nd runner-up – Emeterion Cabasali, P10,000.

The competition is part of Villar’s advocacy to promote garbage recycling and efficient solid waste management.

Entries from the Samahang Magpaparol ng Las Piñas used recyclable materials such as shampoo sachets, soap cartons, straws, PET bottles, cans, tetra packs, newspapers, used CDs and cardboard boxes as well as organic items like clam and mussel shells.

They also used materials such as coconut husks and dried leaves for their entries. Bamboo was the main material for the lantern frames. There were a total of 12 entries.

The contest mechanics included ingenuity and resourcefulness, 30 percent; creativity, 25 percent; impact, 30 percent and technical skills, 15 percent for a total of 100 percent.

The Parol Festival was a brainchild of Villar when she was still the representative of Las Piñas in a bid to boost the city’s parol-making industry. Las Piñas City is home to three generations of parol makers.