Living in the Philippines during the Christmas season one will find they are approached by strangers asking “Where is my Christmas?” Now into our second “ber” month of OctoBER it is fully Christmas in the Philippines.
Where is My Christmas?
I have been trying to figure out how to reply to this question. The only thing I could come up with was to ask “Where is my Christmas?” This got me strange looks. Maybe even indignant, “How dare you ask me that” kind of looks. I don’t understand why they can ask me but I can’t ask them. Maybe it is like tag and where the rules are you can’t tag the person that last tagged you. Yes, I’m jesting. I don’t know.
- Christmas Decoration in The Philippines
Many expats and many Filipino hate this. I don’t understand that reaction. I have no problem with saying “no.” Usually, I don’t even have cash on me. Which is funny since they are asking me and I don’t have anything. They don’t ask Jessie and she usually has my money. If I do have money in my wallet, I’m not likely to remove it from my pocket. Not even in Bogo City.
Its Christmas though, no reason to be harsh, even when it is not Christmas. Especially no reason when it is Christmas. Quit being a Scrooge, have Christmas in your heart year round.
Now I’ve come up with a better solution I think. I finally figured out what to say. Well, as soon as I learn how to say it. From now on, I will gently look them in the eye and say in Cebuano “Naay Pasko sa imong kasing-kasing.” Translated back to English, It means
Christmas is in your heart.
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Tagged with: Christmas In The Philippines • Living In The Philippines
Filed under: Christmas In The Philippines • Filipino Culture • Living In The Philippines
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Jessie gave me two more translations:
in waray = may pasko ha imo kasing-kasing
in tagalog = meron pasko sa puso mo
Hey Rusty, how about keeping some pesos in your pocket to hand out whenever you’re asked that question. Just give then one peso and see if that satisfies them. What do you think will be the reaction to that ?
For a heathen (me) I’m kind of strict with myself on this topic. I don’t like to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing when it comes to giving.
(being a heathen I don’t paraphrase the bible very often) I would recommend 5 peso as a minimum.
I will say that when I first got here I gave a kid what could find in my pocket. He looked at me like I was crazy. I later found out that I gave him a centvo. Which I guess was 1/40 of a penny.
I still don’t know the coins very well. I guess I should stop depending on Jessie to do everything for me. I do depend on her a lot since I never know what the intentions of a stranger are. She always reminds me that they see me as an ATM. For that reason, she is very protective of me when I’m in public.
I went through my first Christmas in the Phils last year, Rusty, and was only asked that question by a couple of our jeepney dispatchers back at Jordan Wharf in Guimaras. They just saw me handing out a tip to the two porters we usually use when we get off the pump boat. I gave the dispatchers a tip, also, since we have to hire a multi-cab to haul groceries and crap at times, and they are in charge of that. Fortunately, that is the only time I have been asked “Where is my Christmas?” I’ll see how it goes this year.
I use to walk a lot Dave. When I did, I got that question a lot.
I hope to get restarted on my walking, I know I’ll feel much better if I get off my lazy butt!
We’ve already had “carollers” at the door. Not really signing much, just clapping their hands and asking for cash. I don’t mind but my GF does.
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