Filipino Christmas Caroling in June
This morning I was sitting on the terrace when some Filipino walked up and started singing. I call it the front porch myself but that might be a phrase from the American South. Since I was out there in my boxer shorts (common here) and t-shirt I didn’t have any cash on me. When they started singing I held my hands up and told them I had no money. I don’t know if they understood.
People that do this do not bother me. I find it an honorable way to make some money. It can’t be a very productive way which would make it hard work. It doesn’t happen a lot but its not the first time. I actually enjoy it. I don’t feel obligated to pay them as I didn’t ask for it.
This particular situation was funny to me because they started signing “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” and its the middle of June. As far as I know, the word for Christmas is still Christmas here so they had to know what they were singing about. My guess is it was the only English song they knew.
There was a man with a young child. They clapped and sang. Often the carolers have a hand held device that makes a sound much like a wood shaker would make but they only had their hands. If I had any more, I would have given them a little but not much. A few peso and hope they can get a few more from others too.
The man was wearing dark glasses which seemed to indicate he was blind. He didn’t acknowledge my empty hands but when I got up to go inside, he knew it immediately and walked off. I had stopped to pick up my fan and take it back inside. I usually take a fan with me when I relax on the porch.
I suppose this is a bit of scam that you hear expats talk regarding the Philippines. But come on, all they are hoping for five to ten peso. It takes nearly 50 of them to make a dollar. The dark glasses made it seem a bit scammy but otherwise, I think of it as honest work. They could be out there stealing but they are not. When things are bad, they are out there trying to make money when they may have no other way to do so. There’s nothing wrong with that. I usually sit back and enjoy it and thank them.
Once again, how you feel about the Philippines is about your outlook. You could look at this as an intrusion on your privacy or you could look at it to experience Filipino culture and that’s how I see it. He’s not really begging, they don’t come out and ask for money but they are looking for it. I find it cute and friendly myself.
Tagged with: Cebuano Culture • Expats • Filipino Culture • Living In The Phlippines • Philippines
Filed under: Christmas In The Philippines • Filipino Culture • Living In The Philippines
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Rusty, my big brother used to have a girlfriend whose dad was begging for money in one of the churches in Cebu City…the irony is. one of his sons is one of the officials in one of the major banks in the city. The family kept on sending him back to Bohol because they were embarassed of what he’s been doing but he kept going back to Cebu to beg. I do not know what was his reasons because he was taken cared of- from clothing to food and shelter.
yes, some are wearing glasses pretending to be blind but they are not. It amused me when u said they were singing christmas songs. You are probably right that they do not know any English song but christmas carols…:) Just imagine when it is really Christmas..a lot of carolers going from house to house. The government is checking for permits nowadays/
I didn’t mind it at all. If he was blind, he had really good sixth sense cause he knew when I got up. 🙂 I enjoy it when they come by singing, Christmas carols in June though were comical. I’ve had this kind of thing happen before.
Maybe grand dad didn’t like being told what he could do or could not do. I hope I’m hard to control if I grow old. Those that are hard to control tend to live longer, well if they don’t drink themselves to death. 🙂
Maybe he wanted more than bare necessities. Maybe he saw it as honorable work or simply something to do! 🙂