christmas caroling has lost all its former glory - at least it has, here in the Philippines.
its original premise of bringing about christmas cheer to each house in the neighborhood has taken a back seat to the shady, underhanded goal of making a quick peso. if, in the states, a well-organized troupe of singing children, adults, or both get to sing a good repertoire of
christmas carols, here in the Philippines, anyone, mostly streetchildren, will go right up to you in the street or in your church parking lot and half-heartedly sing you the undying "sa may
bahaaayyy...". they deserve a peso or lower for such acts. but since i'm such a softie, they get a minimum of five pesos from me.
i think caroling should have a rating system - i mean, you get plus points (more money) for effort. i mean, it's so easy to sing a song using a slightly improved version of your normal speaking voice - therefore, it's so easy to just hand you five pesos. and we all know
how much five pesos amounts to nowadays.
and isn't it annoying on how the money becomes an automatic off switch? i mean, once they get
their hands on it, they stop singing. the good carolers finish off their repertoire before leaving, and trust me, we rarely get good carolers.
please, give caroling the dignity it once had and has in other countries. going out and giving money to those who are literally begging for it, despite how good or bad they sing, has become
a chore for me, instead of an opportunity to be really entertained.
its original premise of bringing about christmas cheer to each house in the neighborhood has taken a back seat to the shady, underhanded goal of making a quick peso. if, in the states, a well-organized troupe of singing children, adults, or both get to sing a good repertoire of
christmas carols, here in the Philippines, anyone, mostly streetchildren, will go right up to you in the street or in your church parking lot and half-heartedly sing you the undying "sa may
bahaaayyy...". they deserve a peso or lower for such acts. but since i'm such a softie, they get a minimum of five pesos from me.
i think caroling should have a rating system - i mean, you get plus points (more money) for effort. i mean, it's so easy to sing a song using a slightly improved version of your normal speaking voice - therefore, it's so easy to just hand you five pesos. and we all know
how much five pesos amounts to nowadays.
and isn't it annoying on how the money becomes an automatic off switch? i mean, once they get
their hands on it, they stop singing. the good carolers finish off their repertoire before leaving, and trust me, we rarely get good carolers.
please, give caroling the dignity it once had and has in other countries. going out and giving money to those who are literally begging for it, despite how good or bad they sing, has become
a chore for me, instead of an opportunity to be really entertained.
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