2014 Pasko marks the Quiapense’s heart
Written by Abigail Ko, Edited by Charmaine Yves Chong (volunteers) and Photos by Axl Guinto
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| Facade of Kasa Boix with the Parol | (c) Jericho Carillo |
At the dusk of December 13, 2014, on the scarcely lighted and quiet, concrete street of A. Bautista in the heart of the Quiapo district of Manila, an unusual scene unfolds. People gathered together, looking up in the direction of a parol hanging from an open-panelled sliding window of one of the quaint heritage houses that lined the street. The parol is Filipino, a holiday decoration made from yellow sheets of translucent paper and thin wooden sticks, crafted into a lantern in the shape of a star, enclosed in a circular frame wrapped with white paper crinkles. From the star’s two lower points hang frills of the same white paper. Facing the Philippine flag of red, white, yellow, and blue hung in front of the parol, ladies and gentlemen, young and old stood side by side, with their open palms on their chest, singing the National Anthem led by Ms. Justine Danielle Cabigting, who was clad in Filipiniana attire. Passersby who recognized the tune paid their respect by pausing and standing still until the music ended. The singing was followed by lighting of small sticks of fireworks called lusis as the crowd stood in a circle, attracting curious children from neighboring residences
