Video credits: Gersam Lopez via www.youtube.com
I have to admit, while writing the previous blog, I didn't notice that I had been writing almost 3k words already on my phone. As soon as I synced my Google Keep account on the computer, I learned the great reality.
I hate long blogs by the way and you know if I have a choice, I'd keep my blogs short with lots of photos in it but sadly, the opposite is required in this site. Sometimes I hope photo blogs are also accepted.
Anyways, as mentioned earlier, I had been writing a long one so I was forced to split it into two but I had to change the topic from the It's More Fun in the Philippines to the advantages of allowing our youth and children to go out caroling.
Image credits: familyandlifeupdate.com
I have below five possible things that are positive results of the act. By the way, I'd like to share as well that while I was reading this blog, I realized there were points when I had gone out of topic, a result of trying to blog when sleepy. So, just a friendly tip, don't dare blog when you are sleepy, you'll end up rewriting.
1. Caroling is a "Confidence Booster".
One might take it for granted that when a child goes out there and face the annoyed or perhaps angry faces of the house owners, it boosts a child's confidence. It takes a lot of courage to do such activity and when one gets the courage to do so, let him or her be. Surely the fear of facing these neighbors are just a mind matter, it may feel like embarrassing at first but as more and more houses are visited, they'll get use to the feeling and will conquer shyness.
Image credits: www.pinterest.com
Being shy is normal for a child but it is a great way to expose a child to the people around. Whether we will like it or not, our children will surely get to the point that he or she must face the people around him, friends or foes or even strangers and it maybe a bit frightening but by doing this activity even if that is only happening in a few weeks or months annually, it still makes a huge difference tot he confidence of the child.
2. Caroling is a "Creativity enhancer".
Why creativity?
Well, I do believe that formulating the right songs would bring up the creativity part of their brain cells kicking! Songs are really magical, they give commands and expresses feelings in an unknown way. They let us smile, cry, laugh and even sing along with it.
Image credits: galeriabanez.com
Ever wonder how Jose Mari Chan, the famous Filipino Christmas composer and artist ever made those songs? Weren't you even wondering why until these days after all those decades, his Christmas songs are still being broad casted all over the country?
Perhaps he has joined Christmas carols among their neighborhood children and this had developed his creativity side in dealing with songs specifically for Christmas.
Jose Mari Chan has been dubbed actually as the country's "Father of Philippine Christmas Music" due to his outstanding Christmas song compositions.
3. Caroling Motivates Resourcefulness.
Definitely a point that each child had been very enthusiastic about. Thinking about it, I realize that whenever we were making the instruments needed for our caroling activity, we were making use of our resourcefulness sides.
Image credits: joxcam.blogspot.com
Here are the basic needed accessories and instruments when caroling, the Filipino way:
- tambourine
- drums
- drum sticks
- coins container as maracas
With the tambourine, I had mentioned earlier that we would just be collecting tanzan soda bottle caps, we have to use a hammer to flatten them all. These soda caps are all free and can be found at any local sari-sari store as they have the tendency to just throw out the caps outside the store.
Then we will ask our parents to prepare a galvanized iron which is used as the skeleton of the project. The caps will get a hole in its epicenter and will place them all together inside the galvanized iron before closing its end.
Image credits: frustrashow.com
Drums are pretty easy, any tin can, big or small can be used for this. It's mouth will be covered with plastic then a rubber band to keep it in place and it will create a banging sound when hit by its own drumsticks which are also reused items.
The coin container will be used as well as a make shift maraca. When there's a new coin or cents add, they'll be added inside the tin can and will be shaking it to create this maraca sound, although it was not really necessary to do so.
4. Caroling is an "Independence Builder".
Image credits: ckjs.com
Allowing the children to do this is also teaching them to become future independent people. A training ground as it could be for them to be able to handle their lives without being dependent to anyone else specially their parents.
There's really a huge issue with youth being very dependent to their parents. I am glad I don't belong to that group. Whilst having a parent to help you out is great, it is better to be a person who would appreciate parents' help once in a while but as much as I can, I'd not ask him or even mom to help me out for my personal issues which involves things I should be deciding for myself.
5. Caroling Keeps "Gratefulness Vibes On".
Image credits: www.raindeocampo.com
One standard operating procedure for the kids in the country after each single house visit is to sing a thank you song. It goes like this:
"Thank you, thank you ambabait ninyu, thank you!
That means, thank you thank you, you are all very generous! This is sang in each and every single house visited by caroling kids. Truly, they'll be grateful for the things that the house owner had given them and even to those who had not given.
Watch to the very end for the Thank you song. Video credits: Gersam Lopez via www.youtube.com
I hope you had enjoyed this blog as much as I did! Let me know if you can relate to the story, constructive criticism is welcome!
Blog entry written and published by Jean Beltran-Figues, A Pinas traveler and photography hobbyist, find more travel blogs in my blog section, click here.
