"My parol is the most beautiful lantern in this whole class! Wait until you see it!" boasted Andy in class one day in December. "It has lots of different colored lights! Red, green, blue! And even silver and gold! It's really awesome!" The sixth-graders ooohed and ahhhed over Andy's vivid description of his lantern project. "And that's not all, not only does my parol have dancing lights, it has a hidden cassette player that plays Christmas carols! So who needs carolers?" added Andy in a superior tone. "I am sure to win this year's contest. Ba, my father spent hundreds of pesos just to make this lantern." "I bet Andy's lantern will be the most beautiful lantern the school ever saw!" whispered one of the boys in awe. "It will surely win this year's contest!" giggled one of the girls.

Andy continued to describe the lantern his father had specially made in Manila. "It's frame is made of steel and not the usual bamboo sticks. And when you plug it, the different colored bulbs blink in different patterns! You'll never get tired of watching my lantern. So this year, guess whose parol will light up the Nativity at the church?" "Andy's!" the sixth graders cheered. Andy's boasting was cut short when their adviser, Ms. Angela dela Cruz called the attention of the class. "Class, settle down. Before we begin History lesson for today, I would like to remind you that the lantern contest is open to all of you. Remember, the winner will receive a cash prize of five thousand pesos and the honor of having his or her parol hang above the Nativity. All of you are required to submit your lanterns before the start of the simbang gabi." said Ms. dela Cruz. The class groaned with dismay.