Last weekend was a busy time for Santa Bob. Started off last Friday night, Bob was hired by SM Ecoland (Davao City) to be their Santa. It was the lighting of their Christmas trees there. They had 2 trees side by side with “Hello Kitty” decorations. I think that’s the themes of all SM stores nationwide.
Before the lighting of the Christmas tree they had program and presentations with singers and dancers. And they invited like almost a hundred kids from the orphanage. Those kids were seated in front near the stage. They prepared gifts for those kids and Santa was giving each kid a gift. Those kids also were free to talk to Santa. Just watching kids talking to Santa, I think they had fun. Santa had some elves for his helpers. I think he had half a dozen elves helping him. The elves also performed there. It took Santa almost an hour to meet and greet the kids and adults. Really it’s just not kids that would have pictures with Santa, even adults asked Santa to have pictures too. It was tiring for Bob but he enjoyed talking to the kids though. For him it was worth it.
The next day, Saturday we went to General Santos City. They hired Santa Bob to do the same there. Thanks to SM for providing a nice van to transport us to General Santos and back the next day to Davao, as well as hotel and meals while in General Santos. It’s also the lighting of the Christmas tree at SM General Santos. They had programs, with singers and dancers. SM againinvited poor kids and Santa was giving gifts to those kids. They might have had over a hundred kids there. I could tell the kids were really happy seeing Santa riding the train from the stairs and around the stage. You could see the fascination of the kids seeing a white Santa. I was going to take lots of pictures. Problem was, I can’t be near Santa, he was surrounded by so many kids and the parents. Luckily we have so many friends there, I just asked them if I could have some of their photos that they took. Some friends took some videos too. Many of our friends were bloggers there.
It took more time for Bob there to have pictures and talking to kids. Honestly Bob didn’t even have time to have a break. But he said it’s okay, he said he had fun talking to the kids. Before Bob was called for the program and to see the crowd, he was in the waiting room in the SM clinic, near the stage. We already met plenty of kids there. One kid in particular, his name is RC. He was really a cute kid and not shy to talk to Bob. He already told Santa what he wants for Christmas (a robot). He came to GenSan for vacation to be with his aunt. He’s really from Marbel. Another kid that stood out there in the clinic is a 5 month old baby. She’s a cutie too. Hope to see them again when we return to SM GenSan in December for a four day gig there.
It was also nice seeing some of the people that were there who came from the place where I grow up. Honestly I didn’t recognize them at first. My sisters told me who they were. I’m glad my sisters were with me. Luckily my sisters saw them often in our farm. My goodness when I left the farm they’re not in school yet, now they’re already having grown up kids too. Some were married at a young age. It’s just embarrassing that I didn’t know at first who they were. But I definitely knew their parents when growing up there. I hope they understand. It’s not on purposed on my part that I didn’t know them at first. Which means I’m getting old already. LOL
The good thing about going there, the SM had the van to pick us up and brought us to GenSan. They provided hotel and food and transportation there and back to Davao. It was really a good gig for Bob both days. It’s also good seeing our friends there too in General Santos City. Last Sunday, we went to the Farmer’s Market before heading back to Davao. Bought some good stuff there. It was nice to be back in my hometown. 🙂
Please visit our Website: Santa in the Philippines
And also our FaceBook Page: Santa in the Philippines
A BIG Shout “Thank You” To Cathy (coordinator-agent), Cherry (SM-Davao), Ditzchie & Lourdes (SM-GenSan), and to Sandy (Bob’s hairstylist & extension’s expert).
Mabuhay!!!
Update from Bob
A friend sent me the photo below this morning. I was unaware that I was featured on the front page of the Mindanao Times on Monday! Thanks, Rick Smith for sharing this with me.
Nice article Bob. What you did is some kind of Mission: Impossible so that these kids will get their wishes this holiday season……
Thank you Brian. I enjoyed seeing the kids and interacting with them. It seems they had fun too! 🙂
Ah now I understand the growing of the beard.
Ha ha, Paul… When I started growing the beard and showed a pic on FB, people would ask about it and I told them that I was growing the beard as part of an employment deal… and most couldn’t figure it out! 🙂
Hi Paul – Ha ha ha… You figured it out then. Good for you. Lol.
Nice one Bob, it’s great to see the kids happy, one question would you ever
Consider doing Santa back in the USA if you lived there, thanks feyma for the post
Derek in pasig.
Hi Derek – I don’t expect to ever live in the US again, so the question is more of a rhetorical question. 😉
I might consider it, because I really enjoy it. However, here there is a real shortage of people who can be Santa, because they want a white person. Back in the States, there are lots of white people, and also because back in the USA, people really don’t care much what color Santa is. 🙂 So, there would not be a huge need back in the USA, but here, it is hard for malls and such to find people that they consider “qualified” to be Santa. It really is a lot of fun, though, even though it is a lot more work then I ever thought it would be.
Hi Bob,
I don’t think people see that side of it, thinking about it yes it can be hard work
Your visiting different malls on a tight time schedule but you must enjoy bringing
Happiness to all those kids, last Christmas saw a foreigner Father Christmas in a
Mall in Manila, actually my wife spotted him I said to her how did you know he’s a foreigner she said Filipinos don’t have blue eyes lol ,happy Christmas Bob .
Thank you Derek. It really brings joy to my heart seeing the kids. Their face really changes when they see a foreigner Santa, and I hear them say that it is finally the “real” Santa here in the Philippines. It is a good feeling to bring joy to people, especially kids!
I hope you and your family also have a wonderful Christmas season!
Hi Derek – Yep, it’s so nice seeing the smiley faces of the kids after seeing Santa. I think MindaClaus will have to stay in Mindanao. Kids here needs him. Not much foreigner Santa here in Mindanao. 🙂
I’m glad you like my post. Thank you for reading.
Have a good one!
Bob,
Christmas is all about the kids. Anne and Myself never buy gifts for each as we would much rather spend our money on others. This your will be our biggest Christmas. Do you still plan on having your annual Christmas Giveaway?
I had to stop doing the Christmas Drive last year, PapaDuck, because Paypal would no longer allow me to accept donations. They said that because I am not registered as a non-profit organization they would not allow donations any longer. To be honest, that is why I started doing Santa jobs.. it kind of replaces the Christmas Drive. 🙂
HI PapaDuck – Same here, Bob and I hardly giving each other Christmas gifts. We always gives to the needy one during the holiday season. Santa job was a big blessings for us last year. It started the MindaClaus tour here in Mindanao. Lol
Always happy to see you here. Hello to Anne from me. Have a great day!
God Show Bob ! Additionally, a white Santa that can talk to the children in their own language. You always said it pays to know the language.
Hi Bob – Thanks! Yes, it is important to me that I can speak to these kids in their native language, I think that makes it quite special to them! 🙂
Hi Bob – Yep, it really did good for Bob to know the native language. I can see the shocked of the kids and the parents faces when Bob starts talking in Bisaya. Lol.
It was really a fun starts of the tour of MindaClaus. 🙂
Take care Bob!
Love the Mindanao Times cover. Very “Rockwellesque”
Thank you John. Glad you like it.. I do too! 🙂
Hi John – Thank you so much.
Have a wonderful day!
Hi Bob
So it’s you! Well, for Xmas I want a van and a guitar. Next time I come to the PR, where can I pick them up?
All kidding aside, I think it is great. The kids must be so surprised when you talk to them in their native language. I do not think you have a job there. You must have a ball! The very best to you and your family for the holidays.
I do have a ball doing that, Allan. It is a lot of fun and very rewarding. Thank you for the kind words, and I hope you and your family also enjoy the holidays.
Thank you so much Allan. Santa and his helpers had a super duper fantastic day. Lol
Thanks for stopping by. Have a good day!
Perfect Santa, Bob!
Thanks, Jon. I appreciate that.
Hi Jon – Thank you so much.
Take care and have a pleasant day!
Looking at all the pictures especially the Mindanao Times one puts not just a smile but a tear on my eyes.
May you continue to do such noble work. The kids and the kids at heart am sure will be looking forward to seeing you this season every year.
Wishing you and your family more blessings not only during this time of the year but all throughout.
Thank you Liza, I appreciate that very much!
Sounds as if I should reconsider loosing my Santa SHAPE and grow a beard for the kids next year in my part of Mindanao.
Nothing much more heartwarming than the smile of a happy child.
Good work Bob.