Galactic BlobI’m dormant for most of the year. There’s a slight rustling noise, and voices pour in through the opened door. “Kuhanin mo ang mga parol natin.” At the slight mention of my name, I perk up — awake. Small, grubby hands reach and pull me from the darkness. “Nakuha ko na ma!” The child looked taller now than last year, her hair past her shoulders and with a few more missing teeth. She runs across the room, tossing me onto a wooden bench before abruptly joining a street game of hopscotch outside. “Maganda pa talaga, good quality.” The mother mumbled as she inspected my condition. “Twenty years na yata ito.” She hands me off to the father, whose hair appears grayer each year, but does not fail to attach me to the underside of the roof, overlooking the busy streets. It was only September, but everyone had their parols outside already, signaling the start of the holidays. Somewhere in the neighborhood, someone blasts Pasko na naman o kay tulin ng araw, Paskong nagdaan tila ba kung kailan lang ... and I close my eyes and relish the Christmas spirit.
Pa·rol: is a Filipino ornamental lantern displayed during the Christmas season. Parols are traditionally constructed using bamboo and Japanese paper, and are illuminated with candles, oil lamps, or carbide lamps (Wikipedia)
