Capiz Christmas lanterns (parul) sourced from the City of San Fernando, Pampanga are showcased at the façade of the Philippine Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam in observance of the holiday season. Considered as a ‘first’ in the embassy’s history, the paruls were lit on December 15, 2022 to coincide with the start of “Simbang Gabi” traditions among Filipinos.
Earlier this year, Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Hon. Meynardo LB. Montealegre expressed his interest in bringing the locally crafted lanterns to Vietnam’s capital city after receiving a parul as a gift from the City Government of San Fernando, Pampanga. The city’s token was delivered through a voluntary courtesy visit by The Outstanding Fernando Awards recipient for youth service Earl P. Tongol in July.
The seven-piece electric Capiz lantern set with sequencers, crafted by the renowned Quiwa clan of lantern makers, complements the French-style Philippine Embassy building located at Tran Hung Dao Street. Locals and Filipino visitors traversing through the urban district of Hoan Kiem can appreciate the lantern display set against Vietnam’s colonial strip of embassies, commercial buildings, and tourist spots.
San Fernando’s paruls have been attracting global attention as it has been featured in more than 20 countries through partnerships with the Philippine government embassies, agencies, and the private sector. The lantern exhibit in Hanoi reinforces the parul as a living representation of Kapampangan ingenuity and staple Filipino icon of creativity.
See below photos courtesy of Philippine Embassy in Vietnam
