I HAVE always been fascinated by parols or lanterns. As a child, I would count and stop at houses with lighted parols on our way home from church. To most of us who grew up in the provinces, the parol is the symbol of Christmas, not Santa Claus or Christmas trees.

I always wanted to see the biggest parol in the Philippines. I remember braving the traffic several years ago to San Fernando, Pampanga so that we could watch the spectacle of lights of the giant lanterns. The display was located at the back of Robinsons Starmills. Entrance to the venue was free, but you had to show a receipt that you bought something from Robinsons. I remember buying a towel. I showed my receipt to the guard and was ushered into the parking lot. I parked in front of the nine giant lanterns. I was excited as I was going to see the biggest lanterns in my life. When the show was about to start, it started to rain. 'We are canceling tonight's show,' we heard from the public address system. I drove home to Cavite very frustrated. I thought I would never get the chance to see the Giant Lantern Festival again.