Archbishop Valles Encourages Families to Renew Filipino Christmas Traditions Through The Belen and Parol

In his pastoral letter for the celebration of Christmas, Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao, called on Catholic families to meaningfully prepare for the birth of Christ by putting up the belen or nativity scene and displaying traditional Filipino Christmas lanterns or parol in their homes. The Archbishop emphasized that these time-honored symbols remain powerful expressions of faith, hope, and family unity during the Christmas season.

Archbishop Valles encouraged families to set up the belen progressively throughout the days of Advent, completing it on Christmas Eve with the solemn placing of the image of the Child Jesus in the manger. This practice, he noted, helps families journey spiritually toward Christmas Day, allowing each stage of Advent to deepen anticipation and prayer. To support this tradition, the Archdiocesan Liturgical Center (ALC) has made available prayer booklets for families to use as families formally complete the belen on the evening of December 24.

The pastoral letter also highlighted the parol as a cherished Filipino Christmas symbol that should be preserved alongside other customary decorations. More than festive ornaments, parols symbolize the guiding star of Bethlehem, reflecting the Filipino people’s enduring faith and joyful hope in Christ, the Light of the world. Archbishop Valles stressed that these symbols are not merely decorative but catechetical, serving as simple yet profound tools of faith formation within the home, especially for the younger generation.

By promoting these traditions, Archbishop Valles reminded the faithful that Christmas is ultimately about recognizing that God is with us — Emmanuel. Through the belen and the parol, Filipino families are invited to open their hearts and homes to Christ, allowing the light of faith, tradition, and communal prayer to shine brightly during the season of joy and hope.

As the Archdiocese of celebrates Christmas, the Archbishop encouraged families to rediscover the deeper meaning of these beloved Filipino symbols, reminding them that beyond lights and decorations, Christmas is a celebration of God dwelling among His people and within every Christian home.