14/12/2025
SK MA-AO Official entry for this year’s Lantern of Hope
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SIDLAK: Glow Softly from Within
“Glow Softly from Within” is a quiet storyteller of craft, place, and memory. Formed from delicate capiz shells framed by carefully bent metal wires, its star-shaped body captures light in gentle layers—each shell panel diffusing a warm, golden glow. Along its edges, small shells, sparkling stones, and fine trimmings add texture and shimmer, echoing the patience and devotion of ten dedicated individuals who came together to shape it piece by piece. Each person brought a unique skill—careful hands sorting shells, steady fingers bending wire, and thoughtful eyes arranging patterns—resulting in a parol that carries not just light, but shared effort and unity. When illuminated, the parol feels alive, its light pulsing softly like a heartbeat—steady, hopeful, and welcoming.
The parol finds deeper meaning when imagined in Bantayan Park, Bago City, Negros Occidental. As dusk settles and the sky shifts into shades of amber and indigo, its glow mirrors the warmth of the community that gathers there. Bantayan Park, a place of leisure and shared moments, becomes a fitting home for the parol—a symbol of guidance, faith, and togetherness. Just as the park serves as a meeting point for families, friends, and travelers, the parol draws people in with its light, gently reminding them of home and belonging. In its presence, conversations linger longer, laughter feels warmer, and the night itself seems to slow down.
In Bago City, where tradition and progress walk side by side, and with the support of the city government under the leadership of Mayor Mayette Javellana-Yao, this parol becomes more than a decoration. It stands as a testament to bayanihan—the spirit of communal unity—where ten individuals worked as one to transform simple, natural materials from the sea into a symbol of shared identity. Blending heritage with creativity, the parol reflects Negros Occidental’s resilience, faith, and generosity of spirit. Standing luminous in Bantayan Park, it tells a story not only of craftsmanship, but of people—a star not only meant to be seen, but to be felt, lighting the way through shared nights of celebration, reflection, and hope.
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Thank you to our artist Yokyok Perio and Bemboi who never declined our offer despite of a very short notice. Looking forward of working with you again.
