Here we come a-caroling: What you should know about caroling in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines - Seventy-one year old Teofisto Vergara was sitting under a tree along Osmeña Boulevard one Wednesday afternoon. He looked lost and sad because somebody told him that police will apprehend carolers who do not have permits from the city government.

Noy Teofisto travelled more than 60 kilometers from Barangay Giloctog, a coastal barangay of Barili in southern Cebu bringing with him his small guitar. “Moanhi g’yud ko kanunay sa siyudad kada pasko sir kay sa amo mingaw kaayo. Maayo dinhi kay adunay manghatag og pinaskohan.”

The old man narrated that last year he was able to bring home about P3,000 out of his “dinaygonan” or earnings from caroling because he stayed in the city from the first week of December until the feast of Sto. Niño, which falls every third Sunday of January.

House to house caroling

Caroling during the Christmas season is part of Philippine tradition. Carolers go house to house to sing Christmas songs and are given money in exchange.

In Cebu City, however, there is an ordinance that requires carolers to secure a permit first from the Office of the Mayor. The permit allows carolers to go caroling around the city from 5am to 10pm. The ordinance was enacted as such, providing time for caroling, so that people who are sleeping will not be disturbed by the carolers.

A check at the Office of the Mayor however revealed that until now, no one has applied for a caroling permit from the city despite the many carolers going from house to house since September, which is the start of the Christmas season in the Philippines.

It is said that it was Francis of Assisi, who founded the Catholic Church’s Franciscan Order and later became a saint after his death, who began the Christmas tradition of caroling or singing of joyful songs in to celebrate the holiday.

In olden times, children who go caroling, or carolers in general were given edible gifts such as dried fruit, eggs, nuts or sweets. The tradition, however, changed during the 20th century, wherein carolers were already given money.

There are people who shoo away carolers telling them to come back when Christmas is near. However, there are also homeowners who invite carolers to sing songs for them.

“Matud gud sa akong mga ginikanan kaniadto nga kon daygonan ka kuno swertehon ka,” said homeowner Albert Maglasang.

Perlita Moreno of Barangay Apas said there are homeowners who drive away carolers because they simply do not want to be disturbed. The best thing that carolers in this situation can do, she said, is to apologize and not get mad at homeowners.

Carolers have different motives when they go caroling. Some want to earn money for themselves while some want to earn money for other things.

Vergara is just one of several carolers from the municipalities who always come to the city during Christmas. “Ang ubang mananaygon sir daghan man sila apan kining ako binugtong ra ni kay makamao man ko moduyog,” he said.

 But not all carolers spend their earning for themselves.

“Manaygon mi ug ang akong mga amiga panahon sa gabii kay aron ang among matigum gamiton namo sa party sa mga bata nga anak sa among mga silingan, para malipay ang mga bata,” said Emma Cañete of Barangay Capitol Site.

Street caroling

City Ordinance 1931, otherwise known as the Anti-Street Caroling Ordinance of Cebu City, prohibits caroling in public utility vehicles such as jeepneys and buses.

Former Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. sponsored City Ordinance 1931 to prevent accidents.

Jocelyn Pesquera of the City Anti-Mendicancy Board said she had already sought the help of the police to do something about street carolers, especially the children, because she has received complaints from the public. Street carolers are a hazard for motorists.

 There are many groups of children who go up PUJs, sing songs and then ask for money or food from passengers. Commuters have even become used to their “Mga ate, mga kuya, dili mi kawatan, dili kami tulisan” spiel. However, these groups have recently been increasing in number, understandably because of the holidays.

These children can be seen along Gorordo Avenue and Escario Street; at the North Reclamation Area, in front of the Capitol, along General Maxilom Avenue and along M.J. Cuenco Avenue.

They bring with them flattened soft drinks caps nailed into a piece of wood that serve as their improvised musical instrument while they sing popular Christmas song like “Kasadya ning Taknaa,” and “Jingle Bells.”

Nine-year-old Lanie, one of the carolers along the North Reclamation Area, said some people riding cars will not give even a single centavo, but she does not mind. “Dili lang ‘sab ko mamugos kon dili ko hatagan. Apan diha’y kausa gihatagan ko’g one hundred sa nag-awto.”

Cebu City police Chief Noli Romana promised to strictly enforce the ordinance and to order all 1,000 policemen in the city to apprehend street carolers.

The Child and Youth Welfare Code provides that parents can be charged in court if they fail to take care of their children by just allowing them to roam around, risking their lives in the streets.

City Ordinance 1931 provides that the violators will be fined P500 or they will be placed behind bars for five days. Those who do not have money to pay their fines can be allowed also to render eight hours of community service like cleaning the streets.

But Republic Act 9344 provides that the apprehended children will just be turned over to their parents or relatives because the law prohibits the filing of charges against minors even if they have committed crimes. — /QSB (FREEMAN)