When the chilly air of the Scottish winter sets in and the skies darken early, a warm, radiant light shines from the home of Lizette David Aquino-Ventura.
In her cozy corner in Scotland, a unique Filipino Christmas lantern — or “parol” — casts a vibrant glow, bridging thousands of miles to her hometown, San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines.
For Lizette, a proud “Fernandina” and an ERP planner working overseas, creating her own “parul” is more than a holiday decoration; it’s a lifeline back to the culture and traditions she deeply cherishes.
“Being away from home isn’t easy…the longing for the things I grew up with, especially during Christmas, when our homes in San Fernando would come alive with the magnificent creations of our kababayans, is powerful. I needed a way to bring that magic here to Scotland,” said Ventura.
𝐶𝑟𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 ‘𝐻𝑜𝑚𝑒’ 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡
Lizette’s journey in making her version of the parol is both an artistic and deeply personal act.
“My ‘parul’ is made from my husband’s old bicycle box,” she explained, smiling as she recalls the resourceful process. Growing up in Purok 6, Sta. Lucia, where she was surrounded by the Parol-making heritage of the Quiwa-David clan, Lizette knew her parol had to honor her roots.
With an artist’s eye and limited materials, Lizette transformed the humble box, cutting and shaping it into a lantern and painting it with colors reminiscent of the parols that once illuminated her childhood.
“I couldn’t find palara or colored plastic here, so I used paints, and my husband Florante helped me every step of the way. Together, we crafted what I call my ‘heART PARUL,’ because it’s my heart that went into every detail,” the artist shared.
𝐴 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐼𝑙𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝐹𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝐿𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑐𝑦
The parol isn’t merely an ornament for Lizette. Its symbolism resonates deeply, tracing back to her grandfather, Rodolfo Estanislao David, the ingenious inventor of the “Rotor” that made the Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando famous.
Her uncle, former Councilor and Board Member Robert Ramos David, also contributed to this legacy, helping to shape the Parul tradition in Pampanga.
“For us, the parol isn’t just symbolic of Christmas,” Lizette reflected. “It’s a family legacy. It’s our identity as part of the David clan of Sta. Lucia, CSFP, and it’s a piece of home I bring wherever I go.”
Her parol, carefully painted and pieced together with love, isn’t just a representation of Filipino craftsmanship; it’s a testament to the resilience and pride of the Filipino spirit.
“I feel like I’m home away from home. I am proud to bring my heritage to Scotland, a reminder of my love for my hometown, San Fernando.”
In her native Kapampangan, Lizette shares a message that captures her heart’s sentiment: “Tune lugud keng kekang pibatan emu dapat kakalingwan nukarin ka man miparas pag maragul mu ing kekang keragulan.” (“True love for where you came from should never be forgotten, no matter where you may be; cherish the pride in your origins.”)
𝐴 𝑀𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝐹𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑂𝐹𝑊𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑜 𝐹𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝐴𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑
With the holiday season nearing, Lizette has a simple yet poignant message to her fellow overseas Filipinos and families separated by distance.
“We remember the laughter, the food, the bibingka, and the vibrant parols that we’d share with family. It’s painful to be far, but it’s even more painful to forget where you came from. My advice to my fellow OFWs is this: Pass down the stories of our heritage to your children, so they, too, will understand and appreciate where they came from.”
Lizette’s story is a beautiful reminder of how, even miles away, we can carry the light of our culture with us. In crafting her “heART PARUL,” she celebrates not just the Christmas season but also the enduring power of love, family, and heritage that shines brightly, no matter how far from home we may be.
