Iloilo City shines brighter this Yuletide season, with 1,500 star-shaped giant lanterns (parols) lighting up major thoroughfares to welcome the happiest time of the year.

Now in its 6th year, the annual Christmas Parol of Hope is a collaboration between the Iloilo City government and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Iloilo chapter.

From last year’s rainbow colors, the chamber decided that yellow and green be the dominant colors with an accent of red in the center, said PCCI president Fulbert Woo in an interview on Monday.

“Hopefully, there would be more sponsors for the parol because the more parols we put on our streets, the brighter will be this Christmas. The brightness of our streets during Christmas will not only show the Christmas spirit but would also give hope, a brighter future for Iloilo,” he said.

The six-foot diameter lanterns will be formally lit on Dec. 1 at the Festive Mall.

PCCI tapped the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) inside the Iloilo City district jail in Barangay Ungka, Jaro district, to fabricate the lanterns.

He said they will get paid PHP2,500 for every lantern they make. Minus the cost of materials, all the proceeds are theirs.

Lawyer Junivem Rey Umadhay, spokesperson for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Western Visayas, said PDLs are tapped to make these lanterns every year.

Usually, 20 or more PDLs are involved in the activity, but the number is growing every year as other PDLs are also encouraged to join.

“They are welcome. Every year, our jails have skills development training, so more PDLS are getting involved in parol-making,” he said.

The lanterns are mounted with the help of the Iloilo City Engineer’s Office, which also provides lighting. (PNA)