WATCH: This Giant Parol in Koronadal is Made From 100,000 Recycled Plastic Bottles
“Ito ay parol ng pag-asa (This is the parol of hope).”
This is what Eliordo U. Ogena, mayor of the City of Koronadal in South Cotabato says of the gigantic Christmas star that now lights up the city’s center.
The lantern is made from 100,000 recycled bottles, which were cut and turned int florets by the Blaan, a tribe in Southern Mindanao. It is the hope that this holiday attraction will help stimulate the city’s economy, while still remaining in compliance with pandemic health restrictions. “We really want to open our economy for our people,” says Mayor Ogena. “Pero gusto naming siguraduhin din ‘yong health and safety of our people, na maproktektahan namin sila (But we want to make sure of our people’s health and safety, so that we can protect them).”
Watch the full story in the video below:
Video producer: John A. Mariano
