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MANILA, Philippines - One of the Philippines' most enduring symbols of the Holiday season has found a home in Singapore, where thousands of Filipinos have also found a second home.
A giant parol (Christmas lantern) was lit up on Saturday at the grounds of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, which also serves as the residence of Archbishop Nicholas Chia of the Archdiocese of Singapore. This is the first time that the Philippine Christmas symbol has been lit up and prominently displayed in the Lion City.
“The parol was an initiative of Paskong Pinoy 2012, which consists of Filipino volunteers whose aim is to enrich the Christmas celebration in Singapore by showcasing the giant lantern from Pampanga, one of the Philippines’ finest symbols of the Christmas season. The initiative was fully endorsed by the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, and H.E. Ambassador Minda Calaguian-Cruz,” said Aldo Joson in an e-mail to Philstar.com.
Joson is the assistant conductor of the PsalmiDeo Chorale, one of the groups which performed during the program held for the parol’s lighting on December 1. It is composed of Singapore-based Filipino professionals “brought together by their passion for singing and their love for choral music.”
“What began as a church choir in 2002 has since evolved into a dynamic performance choir with a broad repertoire that includes classical, folk and contemporary music,” Joson said.
A showcase of Filipino culture and talent
Apart from PsalmiDeo’s performance, a video showcasing the history of the parol was shown during the event.
"A representative of the City Tourism Division from San Fernando Pampanga further explained the significance and festivities surrounding the parol,” Joson said.
Child singers Miguel Antonio and Francesca Pascua and classical guitarist Manuel Cabrera II also performed during the event.
Archbishop Chia, members of the diplomatic community, and the chairman of the Singapore Tourism supported the event through their attendance.
Numerous volunteer organizations, sponsoring institutions and members of the Filipino community were also present during the event.
