WINTER LIGHT. In preparation for the holidays, artist Fernando Sacdalan (left photo) recently hosted Philippine Paper Lantern workshops at the Multnomah County North Portland Branch Library. In addition to making a parol to take home, participants also learned about Filipino culture. Tatiana (above) and her mother, Olivia, create a bottle lantern. (AR Photos/Toni Tabora-Roberts)

From The Asian Reporter, V17, #51 (December 18, 2007), page 11.

By Toni Tabora-Roberts

Artist Fernando Sacdalan began a recent Philippine Paper Lantern workshop by sharing with his students — a diverse mix of about 20 adults and children — a brief history on the tradition of the parol, a Filipino Christmas lantern. The original parols were made of bamboo and lit with candles. He explained the parol always displayed a five-pointed star with two beautiful tails that represented the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus, a sign of the Christmas season.

The class was the most recent offered in the Multnomah County North Portland Branch Library’s current series of family art classes. Youth librarian Valerie Tryon organizes the biweekly art classes. "I actually have had Fernando in the past and it was always very successful. This is a very diverse neighborhood, and I try to have a great cross-section of art classes."

Parol comes from the Spanish farrol, meaning lantern or lamp. More traditional parols are often made of bamboo, capiz (Filipino decorative mother-of-pearl shells), lacquered paper, and plastic or Japanese rice paper. In the Philippines, the colorful parol can be found everywhere during the holiday season and symbolizes the spirit of Christmas, not unlike the traditional Christmas tree here in the U.S.

Fernando credits his daughter, now an adult with her own family, with getting him started in the parol-art business. When she was in kindergarten, she needed an item to bring to her class’s show-and-tell. He thought it would be good idea for her to bring something Filipino. "I made a small Christmas lantern and said she could bring it. The teacher called me and said, ‘Mr. Sacdalanan, you have to come here and talk about this beautiful lantern.’"

The lantern was so popular that the kids wanted to make their own. So it was on that day in the early ’80s that he taught his very first parol-making art class to children.

That got the ball rolling, and he began teaching classes in schools. He realized quickly that demonstrating the techniques would never be enough — students always wanted to make their own to take home. So, over the years Fernando has honed his hands-on teaching techniques, abandoning traditional bamboo or capiz for more plentiful and affordable supplies such as cardboard, foamboard, tissue paper, and other materials he happens to have at hand.

Fernando next explained to the class that he was going to share with them an abbreviated way to make a lantern, something similar to a traditional tail, or buntot, of the parol. He then pulled out some recycled soda bottles, cleverly cut and inserted with ordinary flashlights. An instant lantern! He worked with students to show them how to assemble the base of the lanterns.

Christine and Denver Igarta assisted their young son, Jaden, with his bottle lantern. The Igartas came to the class from southwest Portland. Denver, who is half Filipino, was excited to share some of his culture with his son. "We lived in the Philippines for a year while I was doing graduate work. We got to experience Christmas there and loved the lanterns," he said.

Fernando moved on to the next step in making the parol — the difficult decision of choosing the colored tissue paper. Pink was a popular choice, as were yellow, purple, and orange. After each student had a chance to choose their paper, Fernando demonstrated the folds and cuts they would make to the paper that would soon become the decorative cover to the lanterns. As he cut the paper sample, the excitement was palpable. It was like magic, the paper was transformed into a beautiful representation of the star’s tail. Eager students around the room began cutting their own.

Another Filipino family, the Rebanals, busied themselves with the cutting. Olivia was there with her daughters Ophelia and Tatiana. They were enjoying the crafting of their very own parols. "We grew up with them," noted Olivia. "It’s fun to get in touch with our heritage."

There were many smiles around the room as the workshop wrapped up. Parents and children happily presented their work to each other. For Deborah Newville and her five-year-old daughter, Dyllan, their first time doing Filipino Art was fun.

Praveena Prasad’s son, Nikhil, had been hesitant to come that morning. At this moment, however, he seemed very pleased. "He likes the torch part, and decorating it too," Praveena said.

Fernando chatted with the few remaining parol makers as he collected his things. A retired printer, Fernando keeps busy teaching in schools all over Oregon and Washington and doing carpentry work. The talented and engaging professor of the parol has a certificate in sculpture from Pacific Northwest College of Art, and he’s even had a show at Portland’s Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center. He serves as a teaching folk artist for both the Oregon Historical Society and the Regional Arts and Culture Council.