Senior teaches students to make Christmas lanterns from recycled materials

A senior citizen has been teaching students in Cagayan how to make Christmas lanterns from recycled materials in time for the approaching holiday season, according to a report on “24 Oras.”

Johnny Pascual, 67, only needed bamboo sticks, glue, old magazines as well as his imagination and creativity to create the lanterns.

“Grade 3, Grade 2, may project na naman kami ng parol. Sabi nila, kayo na lang ang gumawa para matuto kayong gumawa. Eh di natuto akong gumawa ng parol,” Johnny Pascual said.

As Pascual did not always have a job in the sugarcane plantation, he spends his spare time in his craft.

He said making lanterns gives him an unusual kind of happiness.

“Maligaya naman ako basta lang hindi ako magkasakit, makagawa ako ng mabuti, at saka matulungan ko ‘yung mga kapwa ko,” he said.

Pascual said that education was also important for him, which is why he persisted in helping students in the area who asked him for guidance in lantern-making.

Due to his skills, Pascual has bagged the prize for best Christmas tree in their town.

“Siya po ‘yung mga kasa-kasama namin na gumagawa ng parol kapag meron kaming pa-contest so we are glad na nag-number one po, last year po,” Johnsen Gallevo, officer-in-charge of the Culung Elementary School, said.

With the help of other barangay personnel, they made the Christmas tree using walis tambo.

“Nung nakaraang Christmas tree ay nag-champion. ‘Yung mga guho na parang maliliit, ginawa kong parang sinawali, linaga. ‘Yun ang ibinalot namin,” he said.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News