The larger-than-life sized figures adorning the Nativity Crib scene in St Peter’s
Square are one of the popular Christmas attractions for the crowds of pilgrims and
tourists who flock to the Vatican to celebrate the festive season.
This year,
the figures portray the joyful Christmas celebrations of indigenous people in Mindanao,
the large southern island of the Philippines. Being a nation of over seven thousand
islands, Filipinos are fishermen at heart and this scene depicts the bounty of the
sea, while at the same time alluding to Christ’s call to become ‘fishers of men’.
Filipino artist, Kublai Ponce-Millan began working on these figures many months
ago in his native country and for the past few weeks he’s been overseeing their installation
in St Peter’s Square. He spoke with Linda Bordoni about his work and about the way
Christ’s birth is celebrated in his home country.