Months before the cold December approaches, the UPLB Corps of Cadets and UPLB Corps of Sponsors of the UP Reserve Officers Training Corps Unit (ROTC) and under the UPLB Department of Military Science and Tactics (DMST), are already busy preparing and organizing the most awaited event during Yuletide Season – PAROLAN.
The birth of this tradition in the UPLB could be traced back in December 1978 when the Corps headed a competition among different organizations of the University through a mere parade of lantern and pageantry. A year after the events’ success, PAROLAN was officially recognized by the University Administration as one of the major activities of UPLB. It was confirmed during the speech of the former UPLB Chancellor Dr. Emil Q Javier. He had stated that the three major traditions of the University are the Foundation Day held every March, the Loyalty Day on October, and the PAROLAN on December.
Throughout the years, the PAROLAN has served as a way for every student to express their creativity as well as their passion for a Filipino tradition. Even that it is now on its 37th year, PAROLAN never loses its thrill because of the diverse theme rendered yearly. Also lanterns of varying forms and styles never fail to give color and excitement to the UPLB community’s Christmas celebration.
This year, the UPLB Corps of Cadets, UPLB Corps of Sponsors, and UP Vanguard Incorporated- Los Baños Chapter in cooperation with the UPLB Administration, and WhenInManila.com as media partner present UPLB PAROLAN with the theme “PAROLAN 2015: Pasko Para sa Lahat” on December 02, 2015 at the Freedom Park. It aims to bring the students, faculty, and the entire Los Baños community to a night of camaraderie this Christmas season.
Aside from the traditional Lantern Making Contest and the Search for Mutya ng PAROLAN, the Corps desires to bring PAROLAN to its new greater heights by adding several elements that the participants and audience will truly enjoy. These newly added elements include Gift Giving Program to a selected community in Los Baños, and Christmas Caroling Competition and Local Bands Performances during the event’s program proper.
As spearheads of this old tradition, the UPLB Corps of Cadets and UPLB Corps of Sponsors again accept the challenge of bringing the entire Los Baños community to a Christmas celebration of unity and harmony – a task given not to everyone but only to the CHOSEN FEW.
by Christina Mae D. Bernardo 1Cl
