As Christmas draws closer, vendors shift to selling parols

As Christmas continues to draw closer, vendors in parts of Metro Manila are beginning to shift their sales to holiday-related items. In Pasay City, ready-to-wear clothes sold along parts of Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard have given way to parols (Christmas lanterns).

Many of the lanterns initially sold at the stall – located near a branch office of the National Statistics Office – were seemingly displayed for Filipinos going abroad, doing transactions at the NSO. The stalls also sold Christmas lights depicting reindeer, as well as lights shaped like roses. Christmas parols are a major part of Filipino Christmas tradition. Many of such lanterns went on sale starting last month in Pampanga province, with those made form capiz shells and selling for as much as P2,000. On the other hand, the Trade Department advised consumers to be careful in handling Christmas lights lest they overload and start fires. Trade officials also urged consumers to check for Philippine Standard or Import Commodity Clearance seals in electrical appliances. — LBG, GMANews.TV