It’s the evening of a perfect day... Christmas day. Our Internet Cafe was closed but yesterday we gave away many free hours of Internet time to the people who came in. It’s sort of amazing how happy someone can be by the smallest kindness. An hour of time on a computer is 15 pesos (about .32 usd). Each person got one free hour. Everyone was sort of incredulous and appreciated this small gift.

As generous as Filipinos can be, in some situations the social norms can be a bit harsh with strangers. A good example is pedestrians trying to get across a busy street. Often a person will have to dodge cars and motorcycles and if they don’t time their crossing well, they can get stuck in the middle with vehicles zooming by in both directions. I’ve decided that I should try to be an example of courtesy whenever I can. I go a little out of my way for seniors and folks carrying packages. Maybe it will catch on. About 80% of the people I stop for, to allow them to cross safely will smile or say thanks. I posted a sign in the cafe: It’s cool to be polite. I am deciding what my next move will be to promote my new cause.

Really, there are many things that I consider simple common courtesy that are very uncommon here. When I purchase something, the clerk will say thank you. I have always had a habit of either saying “your welcome” or “thanks, also.” It’s a small thing but I believe that everyone likes to be acknowledged. This was confirmed for me when I said thanks and your welcome to a clerk at a small local business. As I walked away she laughed and said to her co-worker (in Visayan) that no Filipino had ever thanked her. The ultimate and literally “thank-less” job.

Back to Christmas: This was our second year of what I know will be an annual tradition. A local church has small cards with the names and locations of families living in poverty who are unlikely to have much of a Christmas. My wife picked up 5 names and then put together care packages with rice, canned meats, assorted other foods and a bunch of personal hygiene items like soap, toothpaste and shampoo.

We loaded up everything on two motorcycles and went in search of them.It was quite the hunt. The directions provided were very sketchy and each one required getting directions (numerous times) once in the area until we found someone who actually knew them and could give us specifics.

There are few numbered addresses here so we got a lot of “turn right by where the old tire shop used to be.” Filipinos are notoriously bad at giving directions (hence the sketchy original info from the church). Often people will make a very subtle pointing motion with their lips! Sometimes it’s the much more informative finger point and “over there.” Which doesn’t suggest how far “over there” might be.

We eventually found everyone and their pleasure and gratitude way outweighed any possible inconvenience finding them could ever have caused. We may have helped them have a nicer Christmas but the whole experience was at least as positive for us. It’s my favorite part of the holiday season.