A beacon of faith: CCP’s parol-inspired facade lights the way to Simbang Gabi

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A beacon of faith: CCP’s parol-inspired facade lights the way to Simbang Gabi

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) ushers in the Christmas season by illuminating the iconic façade of its Main Building with a striking Lubenas parol from Pampanga, paired with a stylized belen logo. Together, they form a dramatic visual centerpiece that captures the enduring spirit of Filipino Christmas—celebrating faith, family, and community.

Titled “GABAY,” the display takes its name from the Filipino word for “guidance,” reflecting the role of light as a symbol of direction, protection, and hope. Rather than hiding the ongoing construction of the CCP Main Building, the concept intentionally incorporates scaffolding and structural elements into the design. The façade becomes a canvas where the interplay of light and shadow highlights the building’s state of renewal, turning what might be seen as disruption into a powerful metaphor for transition and resilience. In this way, “GABAY” underscores the message that even in periods of change, there is light that leads the way forward.

The façade lighting will run nightly from 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., beginning on December 16, 2025—the first day of Simbang Gabi—and continuing until January 6, 2026, the Feast of the Epiphany or Three Kings. This schedule aligns the installation with the key observances of the Filipino Christmas season, allowing visitors, churchgoers, and passersby to experience the display before and after the dawn masses and throughout the long holiday period.

This year’s Christmas façade lighting draws from early Filipino traditions and beliefs surrounding the parol, the iconic star-shaped lantern. Historically, the parol served not only as decoration but also as a practical and spiritual guide, lighting the way for churchgoers walking to the pre-dawn Simbang Gabi. The Lubenas parol from Pampanga—renowned for its elaborate craftsmanship, colorful patterns, and choreographed lighting—evokes the star of Bethlehem and symbolizes guidance, faith, and communal devotion. By featuring this regional lantern at the heart of the display, the CCP honors both local artisanship and the shared cultural memory of generations of Filipinos.

The light display is directed by CCP Trustee and Gawad CCP Awardee for Lighting Design, Felix “Monino” Duque, a veteran lighting designer who has contributed significantly to theater, dance, and cultural productions in the country. The concept and visual execution were developed in collaboration with culture and arts officer and lighting designer Jericho Pagana. Their partnership brings together technical expertise and cultural insight, resulting in a façade that functions not only as festive décor but as a luminous narrative of guidance, transformation, and celebration.

“I wanted to have one clear element, which is the logo of the belen. It serves as the heart of that big parol,” said Pagana. “Lit in warm colors of red and orange, the CCP Main Building lights the way for our churchgoers to the CCP Annex where we hold our Simbang Gabi.”

For Duque, who seeks to foreground National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin’s brutalist masterpiece, the lighting strategy was to treat the building as a monumental work in its own right rather than as a passive screen. “We light the building the way it is now, and not the way we thought it was. We light it with all the elements of the construction. So, we don’t just use the building as a surface to project on – we highlight the building.” Guided by this philosophy, the design emphasizes the structure’s bold cantilevers, reveals the roughness and character of its concrete, and uses shadows to sharpen its strong horizontal lines and sculptural forms.

Even with its temporary closure in January 2023 for rehabilitation and modernization, the CCP has continued its long-standing practice of lighting its iconic facade during festivals, commemorations, and other major cultural milestones. These lighting programs not only keep the landmark visually present in the cityscape, but also pay tribute to its rich architectural heritage and the artists it has hosted through the decades. In doing so, the CCP projects a powerful message about Filipino creativity, resilience, and cultural identity, reaffirming that the spirit of the arts endures even as the physical space undergoes change.

“What I want for people to see is the CCP from a different point of view, with elements that are not supposed to be there. I believe that that may never happen again, at least in my lifetime,” added Duque, whose career in lighting design and theater spans over 50 years. “So, it is a special moment when the CCP takes a different face, a different character. Para sa akin, mahalaga na mailawan ko siya para lumabas ‘yung character na yun.”

Warm shades of red and orange tie together the elements of the parol, belen, and construction, drawing inspiration from Genesis, the artwork by National Artist for Visual Arts H.R. Ocampo, which serves as the iconic stage tapestry of the CCP Main Theater. The display also features the CCP logo, placed prominently over the metal structures and scaffolding.

“Kahit under renovation pa rin ang CCP, hindi nagkulang ang institution sa pagpapatuloy ng mga projects, productions, at outreach programs,” explained Pagana. “In essence, the CCP logo truly continues to shine despite everything. Behind every metal, every scaffold, every debris falling from the CCP main building due to renovations – it highlights that we’re still here, we’re still standing, and we’re still shining.”

The installation comes to life with technical assistance from the CCP Tech Team, led by technical director Danilo Villanueva and Shantie De Roca, and executed by Lucio Tapiru, Earl Barrera, Mary Grace Budol, Benjamin Lim, Joefel Alas, and Jovel Bensurto, under the supervision of CCP Artistic Director Dennis Marasigan and Production Design and Technical Services Division head Ricardo Eric Cruz.

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A beacon of faith: CCP’s parol-inspired facade lights the way to Simbang Gabi

Melo Villareal

Out of Town Blog

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