Liwanag mula sa Basura: A Recycled Christmas Parol

Prepared by:
Ashley Nicole D. Dela Cruz
Cypress Lee R. Mancile
Audrey A. Mendoza
Maria Audrey S. Miranda
11 - Kalliope

Preparation Date: November 30, 2025

Target Completion Date: December 15, 2025

Our project aims to create a colorful Christmas parol using discarded materials commonly found in
Dalandanan National High School, such as bottle caps, plastic cups, plastic spoons, used cartons, and used
paper. This project intends to show that discarded materials can still be repurposed through creative
recycling. The idea was formed after noticing the growing waste management problem in our school,
where many types of trash are improperly disposed of and accumulate around the campus.

This project also tests the students’ creativity and resourcefulness while also giving value to items that are
often considered trash. According to the Philippine Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003),
recycling and reusing materials play an important role in reducing waste and protecting the environment.
Through the creation of the parol, students not only enhance their creative abilities but are also reminded
that they can contribute positively to the environment through simple actions.

Another goal of this project is for the parol to serve as a symbol of the Spirit of Christmas, giving light
and hope while showing that even the most overlooked materials can still be turned into something
meaningful. We are motivated by the desire to help reduce waste and promote the importance of reusing
materials and being responsible stewards of the environment. The entire school will benefit from this
project, as it will serve as a reminder and inspiration for students and teachers to be more disciplined in
proper waste disposal and more accountable in caring for the environment.

II. Background of the Study

In many schools across the Philippines, plastic waste such as spoons, cups, bottles, food wrappers, and
used paper is generated daily as a result of student consumption and canteen purchases. These materials
often end up improperly disposed of in trash bins or scattered around the campus, contributing to the
accumulation of non-biodegradable waste. Because plastics take hundreds of years to degrade, even small
discarded items like utensils and bottle caps remain in the environment for long periods, causing pollution
and unsanitary conditions within school communities. This ongoing waste problem highlights the need for
effective waste management strategies, particularly those that encourage recycling, creativity, and
environmental responsibility among students.

Recent studies and local initiatives demonstrate that upcycling plastic waste is an effective approach to
reducing school garbage. In Pampanga, 18 kilograms of collected plastic sachets are converted into one
classroom armchair, showing that waste can be turned into durable and useful materials rather than
discarded (Manabat, 2025). Similarly, students in Baguio City created environmental art from plastic
bottles, caps, and used paper, showing that student-led waste transformation projects encourage
sustainability awareness (Cabreza, 2023). Another program in the Cordillera region trained students to
produce decorative crafts from collected plastic, reinforcing the idea that waste can hold artistic and
cultural value (Cordillera News Agency, 2024). These examples illustrate that recycling is not merely an
environmental practice but also an avenue for creativity, advocacy, and school-wide involvement.
Inspired by these sustainable recycling efforts, this study focuses on transforming school waste materials
into a 3D Christmas Parol, a symbol deeply rooted in Filipino culture and tradition. The parol represents
hope, light, and unity during the Christmas season, and using discarded materials to create it emphasizes
the importance of environmental responsibility. By promoting creative reuse of materials in schools, this
project aims to raise awareness about proper waste management, foster environmental consciousness, and
strengthen Filipino cultural identity. Ultimately, this study demonstrates how educational settings can
actively participate in environmental responsibility while strengthening Filipino identity through creative
and sustainable craftsmanship.

III. Initial Phase

This phase involves planning and preparation for creating a 3D Christmas parol entirely from recyclable
school waste. The initial steps include careful planning and the systematic collection of usable materials
found around the school campus. Gathered waste items are sorted according to their purpose to ensure
that every piece contributes to stability, detail, and overall design. The materials needed for this project
include plastic spoons, plastic cups, bottle caps, used cartons, used paper, glue, scissors, tape, cutter, paint,
glue gun, and glue sticks.

The parol is designed with a carton base decorated with plastic spoons at the front and back, while cut
cups form the left and right panels to create a three-dimensional structure. Additional cups are arranged
into a circular frame with bottle caps as accents, and at the center is a handcrafted Nativity scene molded
from recycled paper. Once the main structure is completed, it will be enhanced with paint to add color,
vibrance, and visual appeal, making the output more festive and eye-catching. Each step emphasizes
teamwork, creativity, and resourcefulness, as discarded materials are transformed into a meaningful
symbol of Christmas.

The project is targeted for completion by December 15, 2025. Through careful planning and preparation,
it aims to demonstrate how discarded materials can be repurposed into valuable art while promoting
environmental responsibility, Filipino cultural identity, and school-wide engagement in sustainability.

IV. Final Phase

In the final phase of the project, we dedicated ourselves to transforming discarded school materials into a
parol that radiates both beauty and meaning. The process began with constructing a strong base from used
cartons, providing the foundation for the star-shaped frame. Plastic spoons were carefully arranged to
form the rays of the parol, while cut plastic cups were layered on the sides to achieve a three-dimensional
effect. Bottle caps were added as accents to enrich the design, and at the center we molded a Nativity
scene using paper-mâché from shredded old papers, symbolizing the heart of Christmas. Once the
structure was complete, the parol was painted with vibrant colors, ensuring that it would shine with
festivity and hope. Every step required patience, creativity, and teamwork as we worked together to turn
waste into wonder, proving that even the simplest materials can carry the light of the season.

The journey, however, was not without challenges. Some materials were fragile and difficult to attach,
forcing us to adjust our design and strengthen the structure with glue guns and tape. Limited resources
tested our resourcefulness, while time constraints demanded discipline and cooperation among all
members. There were moments of doubt when the parol seemed unstable or when our ideas did not align,
but these obstacles became opportunities to practice resilience and collaboration.

In the end, the finished parol stood not only as a decoration but as a symbol of unity, creativity, and
responsibility. It reminded us that the spirit of Christmas is not found in perfection, but in the effort to
bring light and hope to others. Through this project, we learned that sustainability and tradition can
beautifully coexist, and that with determination and teamwork, even discarded materials can be reborn
into something that inspires pride and joy within our school community.

V. Recommendation

We strongly recommend that the school embrace recycling not only as a project but as a daily practice that
reflects our shared responsibility to care for the environment. By setting up proper waste segregation bins
and encouraging students and teachers to collect recyclable materials regularly, we can transform what
was once considered “trash” into opportunities for creativity, learning, and community pride. Integrating
recycling-based activities into subjects such as Arts, Science, and TLE will allow students to see that
sustainability is not separate from education—it is part of it. Making the recycled parol project a yearly
Christmas tradition will further strengthen this message, reminding everyone that the spirit of the season
is not only about light and joy but also about hope, responsibility, and unity.

Beyond the classroom, we recommend that the school showcase these projects publicly—displaying the
parol in central areas, sharing it on social media, and even inviting the community to witness how
discarded materials can be reborn into something beautiful. Partnerships with local government units,
NGOs, and recycling centers can expand the reach of these efforts, while workshops and guest talks can
deepen awareness and inspire more students to take part. Most importantly, we encourage the creation of
a student-led “Green Team” that will champion future recycling projects and monitor waste segregation.
This empowers young people to become leaders of change, proving that even small actions—like turning
plastic spoons into stars of a parol—can spark a bigger movement of care, creativity, and sustainability for
the school and beyond.

VI. Reflection

As global citizens, our group realized that the problem of waste is not limited to our school but occurs
worldwide. Plastic pollution affects many countries, and even small items like bottle caps and plastic
spoons remain in the environment for a long time. Through this project, we understood that recycling is a
shared responsibility. By creating a Christmas parol from discarded materials, we learned that simple
actions by students can contribute to protecting the planet. This project showed us that caring for the
environment connects people everywhere, regardless of location.

As Filipinos, we saw how the project reflects our culture of creativity, resourcefulness, and unity. The
parol is an important symbol of Christmas in the Philippines, and making it from recycled materials
demonstrates that we can preserve traditions while caring for nature. Inspired by examples from other
schools and communities, we learned that environmental responsibility is also part of our Filipino
identity. Protecting our surroundings strengthens both our culture and sense of community.

As students and members of the school community, the project highlighted the importance of discipline
and responsibility in managing waste. Schools generate a large amount of plastic daily, and improper
disposal causes pollution and untidiness. By collecting and reusing these materials, we realized that
everyone has a role in keeping the school clean. The project enhanced our teamwork and encouraged us to
become more responsible citizens who actively participate in solutions and promote proper waste
disposal.

Overall, our group learned that recycling is more than an activity. It is a meaningful practice that benefits
the school, the environment, and the community. Even materials that seem useless can be transformed
into something valuable when people work together with creativity, purpose, and care.

VII. References

Cabreza, V. (2023, September 24). Baguio high school students create green art by upcycling. Philippine
Daily Inquirer.
[Link]

Cordillera News Agency. (2024, October 26). Reducing garbage: Upcycling to works of art.
[Link]

Manabat, A. (2025, February 16). Pampanga recycling project turns plastic waste into school furniture.
BusinessMirror.
[Link]
niture/

Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Regional Office 7. (n.d.). Solid Waste Management.
[Link]