Around 2,000 giant rainbow lanterns will bring a festive mode to the more or less 18-kilometer stretch of Diversion Road from Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan, and other major thoroughfares of Iloilo City, ushering in the Christmas season.

Engr. Fulbert Woo, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Iloilo chapter, said their annual project in partnership with the Iloilo City government will expand to Pavia and Sta. Barbara towns where giant lanterns will adorn the national highway leading to the airport.

“It will be unique this year because we changed the design of the parol (lanterns); we will have a rainbow parol,” he said.

From the traditional five-pointed star donned in blue, green, yellow, and red, this year’s lanterns will have seven points draped in various rainbow colors.

They planned to deck the city with 1,500 lanterns, and they have installed 100 so far. The other 500 will be placed in Pavia and Sta. Barbara.

“In Iloilo City alone, we are targeting around 1,500. We have started to install 100 parols as of today in major streets,” he said.

Woo said the project will also bring cheers to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the male dormitory of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) as they were tapped to make the lanterns.

The PDLs have so far produced around 600 lanterns with materials provided by the PCCI.

The PDLs will get paid for every parol they make, he said without giving details.

They will officially light the lanterns on Nov. 16.

Meanwhile, PCCI will also launch the “Parol sang mga Ilonggo” contest that encourages Ilonggos to join the parol-making contest.

The mechanics will be released after the elections. (PNA)