American in Davao » Ninong

Poverty and Survival in the Philippines

Bruce — Fri, 29 May 2009 03:35:41 +0000

As we all know, the Philippines is over populated and there is high unemployment. Then also you have the problem where employers use the system to pay as little as possible.

In the Philippines, if you have less than 10 employees or contract employees that work for less than 6 months, the labor laws and benefits can be ignored.

Most malls hire their employees for 5 months. They pay less then minimum wage and no benefits. If an employee is good, they might be offered another 5 month contract.

There is also the “It’s ok” mentality where employees are happy to have a job and if the employer is not willing to pay the “13th month” bonus, which is the law, the employee feels “it’s ok, at least I have a job.”

There are also many tradesman that work day jobs for cash. These people are not in the “employed” counts since there is no record to the cash pay.

In most places in the States we live in nice conditions. If we do not have a high income, we still either live at home with parents, or have an apartment. If needed you get roommates, but you have a decent place to live.

If you have ever visited the poor areas of other countries, you see people living in conditions you would never understand. But for them, they are happy to have a roof over their heads, somewhere to soft to lay down to sleep and something to eat.

I have noticed over the years that the poorer the family, the more love and enjoyment of small things mean to them. They do not have much, but they are content and have so much love for each other.

Two weeks ago, when I was honored to be Ninong (Godfather ) for a friends baby Noah, it turned out another friend who lived across the way was having his baby girl Baptized too. Elena and I know them as I was Ninong for his wedding.

Because of this connection, Elena and I were being called from one home to the other to be the first one feed and first to be toasted. We had to be there with the Priest came to say a prayer.

Seeing their homes and how they live reminded me of the conditions people live here. Both these men are talented tradesmen. Jerry is a construction manager and does quality work in most construction areas. Ramil is a licensed electrician. He does complete electrical in residential and commercial construction.

In America these two men would be making a high income and would be living in nice homes.

Here they live in a small 2 room house plus a small CR with a shower and a toilet that has to be flushed with a bucket, no tank. There is minimal furniture and one of the homes does not have a stove or burner. They have a metal stand where they burn charcoal a put a pot on top. With Filipino engineering that have a small fan unit to blow over the coals to get them hotter.

Since Filipinos love music, they both have a TV and a DVD player so they can play karaoke disks so they can sing for enjoyment and entertainment.

When I first moved here, and I would see this type of conditions, I would feel so bad but over the time here, I see how hospitable and happy they are with their family. They would love to move up in economics and have a nicer home, but they find happiness with what they have since they know there are families with much less.

In future articles I will write about how people find ways to support themselves.

Ninong (Godfather) Again

Bruce — Sun, 10 May 2009 01:39:23 +0000

In the past I was asked twice to be Ninong (sponser or godfather) at 2 weddings for Filipino friends. One was actually for the son of Elena’s friend and the other time was for Ramil, an Electrician I had used for some work at the house and over the job became friends.

Last week, Jerry, a Construction Manager I am friends with and use for construction projects at my home and when asked to assist text me.

He has a 5 month old son, Noah, who is being Baptized this comming Wednesday. Jerry asked me if I would be primary Ninong for Noah. Of course I could not say no. Jerry and I have become friends and at times will help me with something I need done at my house and will not let me pay him, just as in the States when a friend needs some help from another friend. This has shown me we are friends and not just a Foreigner/Filipino connection.

I was also invited to the baptism and reception for my Electrician friends little girl. Jerry and Ramil live accross from each other and I told Ramil that I will stop by to see him and his family. I later found out both babies will be baptised at the same neighborhood chapel, so I will be there for both.

I was curious why Ramil did not ask me to be Ninong for his little girl but was then informed once you are Ninong in a family, your not to be asked again for another child or family connection.

Today I have to go for some pre-baptasim seminar and then have to be at the Mass on Wednesday at 6am.

I hope I can wake so early but at least starting early I hope we will be done before the daily heat sets in.

I will report on the festivities later this week.

Being a Ninong

Bruce — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 01:00:00 +0000

Shortly after I arrived in Davao Elena told me a good friend of hers asked us to be Ninong and Ninang. Her friend Vergie’s son Kenneth was marrying his beautiful fiancee Sheila.

If you’re not Filipino you will be saying, as I did, what the heck are a Ninong and Ninang. That is sponsors of the Groom or Bride. Ninongs and ninangs are expected to serve as the couple’s second parents or counselors especially when the newlyweds’ parents are no longer there to guide them.

We are the primary Ninongs and walked down the aisle after the groom and his parents. When the vows were being said, all the Ninongs and Ninangs were positioned around the back of the Bride and Groom.

Because of this honor, I bought a Barong Tagalog. That is a formal Filipino shirt that is a thin material, with long sleeves and embroidered on the front. It is also long and worn outside the slacks. Since it is of a thin material you have to wear a type of T shirt with a few buttons. Almost like the old Wallace Berry shirt.

The wedding was at St. Ana Church in downtown Davao. We were told to be there at 7:30 AM. As an American and not sure of the traffic we arrived about 7:20. At that time only the photographer and we were there. By 7:30 vans and jeepneys arrived with all the wedding party except the bride.

It was so hot in the Church, thankfully there were fans mounted around the church circulating the air.

When the proceedings started, first the Best Man walked down the aisle, then the Groom with his parents. Then Elena and I led the Ninongs.

The wedding was long as usual, but beautiful. Since it has been many years since I was at a Wedding at a Catholic Church, I do not know the differences.

From the Church we went to the reception at the Grand Min Sing Hotel.
At the reception all the Ninongs sat at the Dias or front table. The Bride and Groom sat at a raised area alone.

Once everyone was seated the speeches started. Boy could they talk. There was a lot of laughter during the speeches but since I do not understand Bisaya, I just sat there.

An interesting part was the guests had a buffet, but all of the Nanongs and the parents of the Bride and Groom were served. The foods were plentiful and delicious. There was soup, salad, beef, 3 types of pork including lechon and chicken. Then desserts were served.

There was no cutting of the cake, but each couple at the dais was presented with a small gift cake.

In the opening of the reception, they released 2 Doves which flew up to the ledges of the lighted coffered ceiling and soon after there was a green liquid on the floor. I hope all the guests sitting under the ledge were spared.

There was a money dance where anyone who wants can pin money on the Brides veil or the Grooms jacket and then can dance with Bride or Groom.

They also do something opening the largest and smallest gift. The largest was a TV and the smallest was 2 little cans of breath freshener (possibly needed on the wedding night)

The tossing of the bouquet and garter is done different here. Individual flowers are tossed by the Bride over her head and as each girl catches them they return to their seat. The last girl is the winner.

Then the garter is tossed over and over until the last boy is left.
Then the boy puts the garter on the girl. They are seated next to each other with the Bride and Groom standing behind them. Then the Groom kisses his bride in 3 places, and where ever he kisses the boy has to kiss the girl.

Over all, it was a beautiful wedding and an experience I will always remember.

My Prayers and Best wishes for the Bride and Groom.