LETTER WRITING

If you're writing a Christmas card to your child in the Philippines, here are some things to remember:

• The Philippines has perhaps the longest Christmas celebration because of the monito-monita (a structured way of exchanging gifts). Usually starting in the first week of November, children (participants) randomly pick names from a lot. The names of "who picked whom" are not revealed. Every week thereafter, the person who did the picking (known as the "father" or "mother") will give a gift to his or her "baby," the person whose name he or she picked. All the gifts are secretly placed in a huge carton. Gifts are given weekly following a certain theme (e.g., for week one, fathers and mothers give something round). All participants are babies (recipients) and parents (givers) at the same time. The identity of the parents and babies are revealed on "Revelation Day." This is usually during a Christmas party, the culmination of monito-monita.

• Some churches organize late night or early morning parades. They begin in residential areas and progress to the churches, gathering participants as they go.

• Caroling offers fun times of walking the streets and visiting church members' homes to sing a few Christmas carols for money. Filipino child development centers and churches work closely with one another to ensure that during their students' Christmas caroling times, the focus and message is always on Jesus. Also during the Christmas season, Filipino homes (even those in the slums) light up with colorful parols. A parol is a decorated star that is hung on roofs, walls, poles or any elevated platform. It symbolizes the Christmas star that led the wise men to the manger where Christ was born. Christmas dinner usually consists of roast pig.

Information Regarding Language Differences:

• The local dialect does not specify the gender of the child when you refer to the child. Since there is no pronoun for "he" or "she," most of the parents are not very particular on using the pronouns when they write or translate for their children. This can be confusing in some letters received from the field. 

• Children address older males as "kuya," a respectful title for elder brother; "ate" is a respectful title for an older female or elder sister. 

• The trademark "Barbie" has become a common or a generic name for dolls. When a child refers to "Barbie," she is probably referring to a plain, simple plastic doll.

Write your child a letter.

GIFT GIVING

Child Gifts
Giving a special gift is a wonderful way to show your love to your sponsored child! With your monetary gift of $10 to $25, the country's staff will help your child buy an age-appropriate present such as clothing, a soccer ball or other toy.

Give your child a gift.

Family Gifts
Giving a gift to your child's family helps provide the family with income-generating opportunities they can use to help support themselves and ultimately be released from poverty.

Give a family gift.

Learn more about your child's country.