Pandemic not an excuse: Godchildren willing to receive gifts via virtual wallets, delivery

After years of avoiding giving presents to their inaanak, many ninongs and ninangs may use the pandemic as another excuse to get away with a “cash-less and gift-less” Christmas.

According to Oscar Oida’s report on “24 Oras” Wednesday, some godchildren have shared that they’re willing to go caroling and “visit” their godparents through virtual calls.

They also shared that while they may not see each other in person, their godparents could still send them their gifts via virtual wallets or delivery.

However, a historian shared that the practice of gift-giving from godparents wasn’t the norm back in the day.

Having ninongs and ninangs, said cultural analyst and historian Prof. Jimmuel Naval, started back in the Spanish colonization era.

“’Yung ninong kalimitaan kinukuha mga pari at ’yung mga parents ang originally nagbibigay sa ninong kasi humihingi ka ng pabor na aalagaan mo anak namin pag wala na kami,” the professor said.

“Nag-accumulate ang property ng mga prayle dahil ang dami nilang inaanak. Lagi kasi pari ang ninong sa isang baryo, pueblo,” he added.

The tables turned only during the American occupation, said Naval.

The professor, however, stressed that the essence of having godparents wasn’t found in gift-giving, but in having another set of parents to guide one’s children. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News