Filtered By: Lifestyle
Lifestyle

Where do coins thrown into wishing fountains go? Kuya Kim answers


Have you ever wondered what happens to the coins thrown into wishing wells or fountains?

According to Kuya Kim on Thursday's "24 Oras," the coins are collected by whoever manages the fountain and thus do not magically disappear to grant our wishes.

After collecting the coins, they will be sent to charity, public service, or put to some other use.

One of the most popular wishing fountains in the world is the Fontana Ditrevi in Rome, Italy. In the Philippines, we have the fountain at Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag in Pangasinan.

The coins in that fountain are collected by Basilica employees every two weeks so they would not rust. Afterwards, the church makes use of the money in several ways.

"Sinasama sa mga donation, mga mass collection, development ng simbahan, pang suweldo sa mga employees, pang scholarship," said Fr. Roberto Reyes, OP, Assistant Parish Priest Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag.

Reyes said that the fountain was not built for that purpose, but he was grateful nonetheless to the well wishers for their help.

"It has never been a wishing fountain. We have never encouraged people, told people, to drop money there," he said.

The belief in wishing wells began in ancient Europe, where people thought paying a price would make the guardians of the well grant their wishes.

—MGP, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT