Pinoy Christmas: A fad for crisp bills

MANILA — Aside from being dubbed as the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas in the Philippines is a season of something new — from clothes, shoes to money.

During the holiday season, giving new and crisp paper bills, regardless of color and value, has become customary for Filipinos.

Just like the much-loved “lechon” often seen as a centerpiece in during the “noche buena” and “media noche” feasts, the Filipinos’ fascination for crisp bills as gifts is ingrained in tradition supported by the practice of banks to issue new denominations during the holidays.

Businesswoman Charlene Manuel, from San Carlos, Pangasinan said that the giving of crisp bills, especially those with high value, looks good.

“Nagiging tradisyon pagsapit ng holidays, pinamimigay ang mga bagong bills dahil maganda tignan at hindi nakakahiyang ibigay sa mga pagbibigyan. Wala ring pinagkaiba ito kung magbibigay ka ng regalo, syempre bago. Ganon din sa bills (It’s a Filipino tradition to give new bills as gifts during the holidays and giving new money is sometimes better than other stuff. And like traditional gifts, you will opt to give new ones, to show your regard to the person),” she said.

Her views were shared by Kaye Imson Pangilinan, a new mom living in Navotas, who said that it is more exciting for some to receive new money as gifts during the holidays.

“Kasi pag Pasko, mas exciting daw na makatanggap ng bagong pera. Amoy pa lang nakakatuwa na. Tapos mapabata o matanda napapasaya (During Christmas it’s more exciting for some our ` kababayans’ to receive crispy new bills as gifts. Just by smelling it, someone becomes happy. I think both old and young people are happy when they receive these),” she added.

For Joel Locsin, a resident of Binondo, Manila, new bills equate with the coming New Year which is just six days away from Christmas, hence the fixation of Filipinos to give new money as gifts.

For Tiea Maryze Villanueva, an overseas Filipino worker currently in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, giving of crispy new money can be likened to a good luck charm to greet the coming New Year.

The same holds true for marketing executive Trisha Alcantara, a resident of Mangatarem, Pangasinan, adding that new bills give a good and positive vibe for the coming New Year.

“Bagong taon, bagong pera at bagong buhay (New Year, new money, and new life),” she added.

For Tiffani Nepomuceno of Caloocan City, the Filipino fixation for new money during the holidays can be attributed to the tradition of having new things for the holidays.

“New clothes, new furniture, and new money, that’s the traditional way of greeting the Christmas Season,” she added.

As for Jeca Marie AlejoCurammeng, a new housewife from Barangay Muzon, Malabon, giving new money equates to sharing happiness and blessings to old and young people alike. ■