Monday morning, Facebook messages flooded my notifications. Everyone in the NU Barkada group chat was touched by Disney’s newest Christmas ad: a three minute animated short about a Filipino family. This story of a relationship between a grandmother and her grand-daughter tugs at your heart strings (I had to hold back some tears while watching it in my apartment living room). To the praise of many, it also incorporates Filipino traditions, primarily parols. These star-shaped lanterns are icons of Christmas in the Philippines, similar to the Christmas tree in Western countries. They’re traditionally made out of bamboo sticks and Japanese paper. The design symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem and hope during the Christmas season. One can find parols decorated throughout homes and establishments as early as September.
In the story, a Lola (grandmother in Tagalog) and her grand-daughter make parols every year. As the grand-daughter grows older, their relationship weakens, as symbolized by the breaking of a Mickey Mouse plushie, a toy given to the grandmother by her father. To reconcile with her Lola, the grand-daughter surprises her with numerous parols filling the entire living room. This heartwarming story was a lovely start to my week. Not to mention, it’s great to see other Filipinos swell with pride over a company as big as Disney representing their culture.
