Photo courtesy of Hector Pascua, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau, Austria

The Christmas spirit came as early as November 22, 2008 when Philippine Embassy staff in Vienna kicked-off the Parol Making Workshop for Filipino Children.

The workshop, which was held at the Rizal Room of the embassy in Viennam was conducted by Wilson Tan Ho, an active Filipino community leader.

Tan Ho and the Philippine Embassy said that the workshops aim to teach Filipino children born in Austria, to appreciate the richness of the Filipino culture by learning the craft of making parols.

“It is a chance for the children to get to know a part of our Pinoy Christmas tradition. We want to impart and share to them that the parol is part of Christmas festivities in the Philippines,” Tan Ho said.

Consul General Ma. Theresa Almojuela commented, “Being in Vienna, where Christmas is also a popular holiday gives us the chance to promote the Filipino way of celebrating Christmas, and one of these is through the display of parols”.

Almojuela further said that the Philippine Embassy in Vienna is proud to conduct the workshop with the help of Tan Ho, a competent parol maker.

“Through this workshop, we will be imparting to our children a craft that is uniquely Filipino,“ she said.

Anna Maria Baliao, one of the workshop participants expressed her gratitude for the program initiated by the Philippine Embassy.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa embassy sa pagbigay nila ng panahon na matuto kaming gumawa ng parol,” Baliao said.

Aniceta Butin, a grandmother of one of the participants said, “My grandchildren showed a lot of interest to learn how to make parol. It is a nice move of the Philippine Embassy to conduct such a workshop for our children. Through this, they will surely learn how to appreciate our way of celebrating Christmas”.

Parols made during the workshop will be on display during the Paskong Pinoy Celebration, the biggest Christmas gathering of Filipinos in Austria.