Bamboo lanterns light up Caloocan

The staff from Grace Park Parish in Caloocan City are busy making colorful bamboo lanterns that will be molded into different designs before being wrapped in colorful lanterns.

The lantern is a traditional lighting fixture in Chinese homes before the advent of electricity.

Just like in the Philippines, it is a symbol of stability, good intentions, and hope for a prosperous future.

During the Spanish-era, the lantern was used by the Filipino ancestors as a light when they went to church for the nine-day Simbang Gabi or Misas de Aguinaldo.

After the mass, they are hung outside their homes to serve as a light in the dark night and a bright symbol that the family is ready to welcome the birth of the Savior.