Well, Christmas has come and gone for yet another year. Once again this year, Live in the Philippines Web Magazine readers contributed to make Christmas a little happier for some poor people in the Philippines. Let me say, I am very grateful to those who contributed, and thank them very sincerely.
Unfortunately, this year was not a very big year for contributions. In fact, the amount of money contributed was less than 10% of any other year that we have done the drive. So, the Christmas Giveaway was scaled back a fairly significant amount. Of course, the amount that others donate is not the entire giveaway, as we also give from our own pockets as well, but still, there is no way that we could make up personally for the 90% shortfall in donations from readers. I understand, for many times are still tough, and it is not easy for a number of people to donate to a cause like this. Also, I know that a lot of LiP readers who live in the Philippines are doing something similar to our LiP Drive now on their own, and thus their resources are focused on their own giveaway. I have no quarrels about that.
Still, the giveaway went forward. We took a little different focus this year, in fact it was kind of a blast from the past.
Before I tell you about that blast from the past, let me first tell you that this year, Minda Claus (me) was missing from the giveaway! Unfortunately, I woke up on the morning of December 24 and I could barely even walk! I had really severe back pain, and that kept me down for the day. But, no worries, Mrs. Claus and the team of elves (Feyma and a crew of our kids and nieces) took up the slack! I really missed the personal satisfaction of giving to those in need, but it was comforting to know that the others in the house were able to take the ropes and guide my Reindeer along the path that took them to helping the needy. I am feeling a bit better now, but still having some back spasms. I am sure that a few more days rest will put me back in comfort!
Blast from the past?
The first year that we did our own family Giveaway for Christmas, we went to McDonalds and purchased a load of burgers and went around Davao giving them away to homeless children, and a few poor adults too. In subsequent years, though, we have gone to different locations outside of Davao, mostly (but not exclusively) in Bukidnon. This year, we decided to again purchase a pile of hamburgers and take them around Davao City and give them to those in need. Again, we mostly focused on children, but some adults were given burgers as well.
We bought 400 burgers from a place called “Minute Burger.” Minute Burger was also having a special where you got an extra burger for free with every burger that you purchased, so you can imagine, we had a lot of burgers to give away to those in need.
In recent years here in Davao, Mayor Duterte has had a program where he invites Lumads (native people) who live up in the mountains to come and celebrate the Christmas season in Davao City. Unfortunately, that mostly means that these people are begging around the city for a couple of months before Christmas. It can get quite tiresome to be approached for money so often. There are literally hundreds, maybe even thousands of these beggars. But, it cannot be denied that these people are badly in need of food and money, so no reason to not help them as best we can.
Feyma, our kids and nieces went out with huge boxes of burgers and distributed them mostly to these lumad people who are visiting Davao City, and badly in need of food. Based on reports shared with me by Feyma and the kids, I can assure you that these burgers were greatly appreciated, and brightened up the holiday for those who received the gifts.
Doing more?
I hope that next year we can do more to assist. It all depends on the generosity of readers, though. Maybe I should start a little earlier in asking for participation in the drive, I am not sure. I don’t like to stretch it out too long, but we will see. Hopefully the worldwide economy will be better by next year and will allow more readers to kick in even just a small amount!
Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas to everybody! To those who contributed to this, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I know that those with a little more food in their bellies is also very grateful to you!
BOB, YOU DO A GREAT JOB EVEN WHEN FUNDS ARE LOW. AS YOU SAID, MANY EXPATS HERE GIVE FROM THEIR OWN SMALL PROGRAMS AND MOSTLY FUNDED FROM THEIR OWN POCKETS. i FEEL THAT ANY EXPAT WHO COMES HERE WITHOUT INTENT TO GIVE A LITTLE TO THOSE LESS FORTUNATE ARE MISSING A GREAT BLESSING. a
ALSO THEY WILL PROBABLY NOT BE AS RESPECTED BY THOSE LIVING AROUND THEM. THIS YEAR MOST OF US HAVE GIVEN A GREAT DEAL OF OUR DISPOSABLE RESOURCES TO THE VICTIMS OF YOLANDA AND THAT MAY ALSO EXPLAIN WHY DONATIONS ARE DOWN THIS YEAR. t
THIS YEAR i WAS ABLE TO DO A LITTLE FOR BOTH YOLANDA VICTIMS AND STILL HAVE MY PUROK CHRISTMAS PARTY/GIVEAWAY. AND I MUST SAY THIS CHRISTMAS WAS BETTER FOR ME THAN LAST YEAR. TO ME THE MORE YOU CAN DO FOR THOSE IN NEED AROUND YOU, THE MORE JOY YOU HAVE IN YOUR OWN HEART!
Hi Joe – You are so right, I think that by doing a little giving and helping the poor in our local communities it helps us in several ways:
1. It helps us assimilate. It helps us understand better the plight of the people.
2. It helps the people know us and see that we are contributing to the community and want to be part of the community, which is important.
3. It just feels good!
Glad you enjoyed your Christmas and had your Purok Party!
Not surprising about the donation shortfall as you were also competing with Yolanda. All the money we raised also went to the Yolanda cause. But like you and Feyma, Lynn and I also helped out with local people in Davao specifically Bucana where we live and where there are many poor people. Every little bit helps.
Yes, I expected that Yolanda would cut into the Christmas drive. But, those Yolanda victims needed help badly, so it doesn’t really bother me if some of they money that would have gone to the LiP Drive was re-routed to Tacloban and the other affected areas. Merry Christmas.
Hi Bob,
I kind of got the impression donations to Minda-Claus were down this year although with 400 burgers it still seems significant. Possibly with the savings of gasoline cost by not driving far out into the country side bought a few more burgers too. Yes, I am sure Tacloban donations may have had an affect but continue to be equally important. I also think when it comes to stateside donations could be peoples perception of what the new National Health Care Law will bring and how it is going to affect nearly everyone financially. My own health insurance partly paid by me and the rest through my employer has gone up already while others have had their health insurance cancelled by their insurance carrier because those policies did not comply with the new health care law. Home heating oil is now the same or even slightly higher than the pump price of gasoline.
WoW, 400 burgers to go ! I wonder if you bought all of those at the same franchise ? Bet it made the franchise owner happy. There are minute burger locations in Iligan. I have never tried them but after reading your article I will have to try one on my next visit.
From the pics, it sure looks like this years ” LIP ” Christmas Drive still made a lot of people happy and this time many of them came to you. Nice Job Bob and family. I hope you will feel better from the back ache soon if not already Bob.
Hi Bob – Thanks for your comment, and also for your support of the giveaway! You are well appreciated!
I think that all of the things you mentioned played into the amount of giving this year. There is a lot of uncertainty out there. Like I said earlier, the victims of Yolanda needed the aid badly, so no problem with that!
I heard a lot of wonderful stories about a lot of happy people who were enjoying hamburgers on Christmas Eve and Christmas, so I know that it was a success!
i wish i could have given some money i am disabled and waiting to get social security i had my parents and brothers and sisters give for yolonda i dream of some day moving to cebu so i have been reading all the interesting articles i check the site for new articles every day keep up the good work that you are doing and god bless
Hi John – Not everybody can give, that is just the way it works, and I understand that. I appreciate that fact that you wanted to give, and maybe someday you will be able to do so. Thank you for your kind words, and I hope you keep enjoying the site.
Hey Bob…goodness, 800 Burgers, that must have been a logistical nightmare delivering them. I look in at LIP every few days, but somehow I must have missed the posting related to it, and in truth I forgot about it and didn’t investigate it. Well, we did make an enormous donation to Haiyan, as did I imagine many many others, so perhaps that in itself caused a downturn in the Christmas Drive.
Will make an iCal note to remember for next year though.
All the best to you and your family for the coming new year.
Jim, Vangie and Family
Thanks, Jim – Over the month of December there were 4 or 5 articles about the giveaway, sorry you missed them. No problem, though. I appreciate the effort for next year! 😉
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.