Going around different places in Mindanao with Santa!

I think everyone knows here already that Bob took a job from a cellphone company here to be a Santa for a few days from late November until mid December. That’s the reason why we celebrated our Thanksgiving earlier than it should be. The day that we usually celebrates, Bob was already on his first day of being a Santa. So we had to move our celebration ahead of time.

Bob went with his team for the first day of his job. The team leader told Bob that he could bring somebody from the house with him if he wants to. So the second day, Jean went with Bob and the team. Jean was really helpful. She helped Bob with the costume and helping taking lots of pictures. So important for the company to have lots of pictures. I could see that Bob really had fun talking to the kids and even with the adults. I went with him and his team to the out of town tours in General Santos, Koronodal and Kidapawan. Some days our daughter Jean went with Bob too in going to the malls here in the city and out of town. Jean went to Cotabato City and Kidapawan in addition to many malls in Davao City.

It was fun going and helping Bob. I went twice with him to GenSan. The first one there, we didn’t stay overnight. We came back the same day and it was exhausting, but watching Bob with kids, I think his exhaustion just fade away when he saw the smile of the kids and the parents. He really is good with talking to the kids and he would not leave the kids until all of them finished up taking pictures with him. Amazingly some people they want to take plenty of pictures with Santa. Some kids were happy to see Santa, some were just petrified seeing Santa. You could see some kids were just in horror when Santa held out his hand to pick them up.

My second trip to GenSan with the team and we went to other areas near there. On that trip we stayed overnight. You know, you could see that for some of the kids it was their first time seeing Santa. Honestly some of them they just don’t know how to react. They didn’t know if they would be scared or happy seeing someone in a costume. It really fascinates me watching them. In other areas, we saw a mother and a kid both were terrified seeing Santa. We could tell they were from the mountain. They went to that mall to shop, then on the front door here comes Santa and his helper giving away something. We could see the fear in their eyes. Luckily Santa’s helper know how to distract their fears by giving something right away.

In one of the malls (in Koronodal City) we saw a special child. Bob really got him and he had lots of picture with that young man. I think the parents think that we might not want their kid because he’s different. They were shocked that we asked them if it’s okay to give something to their kid and have pictures. They were really happy that we took the time to show we care to their son. We told them that we also have a child that has special needs. They ‘re just so happy that we understood their child.

Towards at the end of Bob’s job, a lady made a request from me that if she could have photo with Santa. Problem she doesn’t have camera. I told her it’s okay, I will have her picture taken and I will send the photo to the cellphone company there in her area that Bob was hired and she will just pick it up there. She hardly goes there but I told her I will have someone I know give to the store and make sure she will have it. She really told me that she really wants the photo with Santa to show to her neighborhood that she saw the real Santa. Real Santa because Bob is a foreigner. My heart really goes out to her.

Anyway, I could go on and on about our trips. It was really fun and amazingly good seeing so many kids and adults loves to have pictures taken with Santa. To see more photos go to Santa in the Philippines.

Have a Happy Holiday Everyone. Have a Prosperous year ahead!!!