Parol from Pampanga featured in Geneva's lights festival

A five-foot tall parol from San Fernando, Pampanga will shine atop Geneva's main train station, Gare Cornavin, throughout the holidays to give residents and visitors a glimpse of Filipino culture.

The parol, a donation for the annual Geneva Lights Festival, also aims to give the Filipino community in Geneva a sense of familiarity and to foster camaraderie with the Swiss city's multicultural inhabitants.

"We in the Philippine Mission want to show a meaningful gesture of friendship and camaraderie with Geneva and the international community that has called it home, so what better way than to bring here an important facet of our culture, a piece of our own home?” said Amb. Cecilia Rebong, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other International Organizations.

Geneva City Counselor Guilliaume Barazzone thanked the Philippines for the addition during the opening of the festival last December 3.

“This glorious representation of the Star of Bethlehem… is a celebration of light and color, reflective of the vibrant warmth of Filipino culture and traditions. It is also a beautiful symbol of openness to the world from our international city, Geneva,” Barazzone said.

The parol was created by City Tourism and Investment Promotion Office of San Fernando, Pampanga. --Rie Takumi/JST, GMA News