A Parol or traditional Filipino lantern will light the Mansion House this Christmas. Lord Mayor Cllr Emer Costello will accept the lantern from His Excellency The ambassador of The Philippines Ariel Y Abadilla in the Mansion House at 16.00hrs on behalf of the people of Dublin.
The lantern will then shine from the Lord Mayor’s Residence for Christmas.
Lord Mayor Costello says
“One of the things I’ve most enjoyed about being Lord Mayor is meeting people from every walk of life and from all parts of the city. People from all over the world now live in Dublin and the Filipino community are very prominent in social, cultural, business and community circles. It’s a pleasure to accept this beautiful lantern which says to the many Filipinos here that although they are far from their birth home this Christmas they have a home here in Dublin.”
World International Ministries Choir, a Filipino choral group will perform Filipino carols at the event.
Ambassador Ariel Y Abadilla says
“As a symbol of the Filipino people’s friendship and gratitude to the City of Dublin and the Irish people, the first resident Embassy of the Philippines in Ireland is delighted to mark the historic significance of its establishment in June of this year by presenting to the Lord Mayor, a ‘parol’ or traditional Philippine Christmas lantern. The lantern that we present to the Lord Mayor is the most recognizable Christmas ornament for Filipinos wherever in the world they may be. The "parol" is intricately designed and handmade with "capiz" or shells. The ‘parol’ reminds Filipinos of the star of Bethlehem that guided the Magi on their way in search of the Infant Jesus.
ENDS