BI staff may say Merry Christmas if passenger greeted first

Members of the Bureau of Immigration may greet travelers "Merry Christmas" over the holidays if the passengers greeted them first.

According to Mariz Umali's report on "24 Oras," BI spokesperson Melvin Mabulac said the BI policy was because some travelers might take the greetings as asking for gifts.

“But basically, we have to understand din na kultura natin iyon. As much as possible, dapat huwag tayong mag-greet during the pagproseso po natin,” he added. 

(But basically, we have to understand that it is part of our culture. As much as possible, we advise them to refrain from greeting during the immigration process.)

Sociologist Bro. Clifford Sorita said that with the double meaning that comes with Christmas greetings, "we now have to stick to the etiquette of greeting."

“We Filipinos are a culture that loves to you know to socialize and part of that socialization process ay ‘yung pagbati natin sa ating mga nakakasalubong, (we greet people when we see them),” Sorita said.

“Kung talagang may double meaning na ‘yun wala tayong magagawa so we have now to stick to the etiquette of greeting. ‘Pag binati ka batiin mo rin sila ng Merry Christmas. Ngayon pag di ka binati para walang double meaning na implication. You just have to withhold na lang yung greeting mo and just be cordial,” Sorita added. 

(If it has a double meaning then we cannot do anything about it. We have now to stick with the etiquette of greeting and greet back if someone tells us ‘Merry Christmas’. If they didn’t greet you, you just have to withhold na lang yung greeting mo and just be cordial.)