Christmas Gimmicks on The Streets

Living here in the Philippines, one would know the traffic hell you would have to go through just to get to your destination -- especially this Christmas season.

This is one downside of this wonderful Christmas season. Your usual 30 minute trip would double to an hour worth of travel. What I do is just watch some shows whilst braving the bumper to bumper traffic. This takes my mind off the road, while waiting for the vehicle in front of me to move 12 inches at a time.

If you are a foreigner visiting the country, I must say that you made the right decision! The Philippines has one of the greatest Christmas and New Year celebrations! ...and everyone knows that even if the traffic jam is this bad here, our streets are packed with uhm.. entertainers? (or not!)

Here are some things to expect when travelling in Metro Manila streets:

1. Expect street carolers
They are armed with plastic cups with coins in them that they use to shake and make sounds while they are singing and knocking on your window asking for some change. This happens a lot now that Christmas is getting nearer. Some of them are quite annoying though. When you don't give them anything, they will bang on your door and run.

No use chasing them. It's not worth your life. Just equip your car with:
A) A Baseball bat*

B) Golf Balls*


Just make sure to practice your hitting skills and throwing skills (*used seperately, unless you are a baseball pro) when aiming for those annoying kids! Better yet, just leave them alone to avoid being called "Mr. Scrooge".

2. Aetas

According to Wikipedia, they are indegenous people that live in isolated mountainous parts of the Northern Pilippines. They go to Metro Manila during the Christmas season holding a placard saying that they need some money to go back to their provinces. Hello?? In the first place, why would they go to Manila to ask for fare money to go back to their places??

In short, this is just a modus operandi by some syndicates that transport Aetas to Manila to ask for money. Don't give them money, please. Just give them food if you really want to give them something.

3. Window washers
This is the most annoying one of all! In case some of you don't know, they wash windows whether you like it or not, whether your windows are clean or not. They just started out a long time ago washing those public utility jeeps windows because some of them don't have wipers. For the part year or so, they started washing private motorists windsheilds during the rainy season.

Now, sunny or raining, or whatever other choices there may be, they wash the windows. What's annoying there?

IF YOU DON"T GIVE THEM MONEY, SOME OF THEM APPLY SOAP AGAIN AND LEAVE IT LIKE THAT! SOME EVEN RESORT TO SPITTING!

I hate them so much! It makes me want to apply anti-soliciting scent on my car!

4. Dance numbers
Yes! Just this morning, I saw this new gimmick. 2 children will dance in front of your car for 30 seconds or less and asks money after each number. Be aware of your side mirrors or whatever-they-can-take from your car though. Some use this as a modus operandi to distract you.

It is a pity to see those kids on the streets but sometimes, they are just plainly annoying. Giving them money is the worst thing you can do to help them. If they are controlled by syndicates, your money would just go to them.

If you really want to give them something, just give them crackers or some food but, if you can avoid giving them, the better.

Giving them money for Christmas makes it waaaay worst. It's like you are consenting their lazy habit of just asking for money instead of making them earn. It's hard to earn, we all know. But remember the saying,

“Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.”

*Photos to follow...