Lanterns & Lace

Two little books that are great stocking stuffers have just come off the press from Duende Publishing’s Artes Populares: Likhang Sining ng Bayan Series, the brainchild of prolific author Rey Alejandro and gentleman farmer (also beekeeper and vermicul-turist) Mike Santos.

Parol: Christmas Star Lantern and Pabalat: Pastillas Wrappers tell the story of these two distinctly Filipino traditions in handy, easy to read 32-page fully-illustrated booklets.

The parol is closely tied to another Filipino Yuletide tradition, the Simbang Gabi or nine-day dawn masses. Rural folk of old wanted to hold a thanksgiving novena for a good harvest, but could only do so before they went out to work in the fields; hence the pre-dawn hour of the masses. As the farmers and their families made their way to church in the dark, they were guided by star-shaped lanterns made of papel de japon (Japanese rice paper) and lighted by candles or kalburo (carbide) lamps. The star shape of the lanterns, of course, represents the star of Bethlehem which guided the journey of the magi to seek the Christ child, much like the pilgrim faithful of today who still seek the Babe of Christmas.

The five-pointed star was reportedly first made in 1928 by a man in Pampanga, Francisco Estanislao, who fashioned a bamboo frame and covered it with rice paper. A candle provided the light. Perhaps that is why the parol tradition is most active in and associated with Pampanga.

Today’s parols though are a far cry from the traditional papel de japon variety. From plastic to capiz and a host of other materials, today’s lanterns have much more embellishments, with flashing psychedelic lights. Some even have lights blinking to the rhythm of music played when the lantern is lit.

Students at the Bauan National High School in Batangas have become famous for fashioning intricate lanterns out of waste material–anything from fish scales to rice stalks to crab shells to dried weeds and flowers. The students’ creativity and resourcefulness have produced fabulous lanterns (this year’s lanterns are on display at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ main lobby until next month), and only upon close inspection will one realize the unusual materials they are made of.

The book includes illustrated, step-by-step instructions on how to make a traditional five-pointed parol, from bamboo frame to paper covering to frills and tassels. It may be a bit too late in the day for you to start making a parol today to hang in your window, but you can think about making your own for next Christmas!

The intricate, lace-like pastillas wrapper is a tradition that comes to us from Bulacan.
Specifically, it is the town of San Miguel de Mayumo that is the source of this lovely craft.

The ancient Chinese have a strong tradition of paper cutting, and through the Silk Road the art was brought to the Middle East and Europe, and on to the Americas. The Chinese used papercuts in rituals and festivals, even funerary customs. The Jews used them as religious items and amulets to protect new-born babies from evil spirits. The French used them as art, in lieu of portrait painting. In Swiss schools, paper cutting is taught to encourage patience and concentration.

Only in the Philippines though does this intricate art take on such functionality–as wrapper for sweets. It is, however, a dying art form, as few of the younger generation have taken up this tedious and exacting task. If you feel like trying your hand at it, the book also has step-by-step, fully-illustrated instructions (there are only seven steps involved). If you start right after the holidays, who knows–you could have the most festive Christmas table next year!

Even if you don’t intend to make your own parol or cut your own pastillas wrappers, these two little books are a good read–and they make nice presents too.

The two authors have also come out with a much more ambitious tome, Tahanan:
A House Reborn, a full-size coffee table book chronicling the transfer of the 1917 Santos-Andres house in Navotas to Antipolo. The three-year task was undertaken by author Mike Santos, a descendant of the Santos-Andres family. This book, of course, is a full-scale feast, telling the history of the fishing town of Navotas, the biography of the family patriarch and shares secret family recipes.

The books were launched in Manila and in New York earlier this month, and are now available in major bookstores.