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Giant Christmas lantern from Pampanga unveiled at PH consulate in San Francisco

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Rommel Conclara | TFC News San Francisco

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AgwAa9TqJjc?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco recently unveiled its massive parol or Christmas lantern from Pampanga province.</p><p>The lantern from the Central Philippine province, known to many as the Christmas capital of the country, came just in time for the holiday season, at least by American standards.</p><p>“If the giant parol actually arrived in San Francisco earlier we could have done this lighting ceremony in September, the first of the &quot;ber&quot; months and the unofficial start of the Philippine Christmas season,&quot; said Consul General Neil Ferrer. &quot;Indeed, Filipinos are known the world over for celebrating the longest Christmas.”</p><p>The Philippine Consulate in San Francisco worked with Pampanga officials to safely transport the massive parol for 7,000 miles to the U.S.</p><p>“This is a product of the creativity and craftsmanship of the local artisans in San Fernando,&quot; said Ferrer. &quot;While it is already massive in size, this Christmas lantern is only half the size of the parols from Pampanga’s annual giant lantern festival.&quot;</p><p>Ferrer expressed hope that Filipino Christmas custom and traditions can also be felt and experienced by all who visit the consulate.</p><p>&quot;Its bright lights inspire us to not only become citizen ambassadors of Filipino culture in the U.S.,&quot; he added, &quot;but also to become messengers of goodwill and love to everyone at a time when peace remains elusive in our world today.”</p><p>The giant parol will be a guiding light for many Filipino seniors who will head to the consulate next week to celebrate the Consulate’s annual Christmas party.</p>

The Filipino Christmas spirit is felt in Downtown San Francisco as the Philippine Consulate General displays a giant parol from Pampanga.