Christmas gifts in kind, cash, or e-money? Netizens weigh in

In today’s age where e-wallets are the norm, do Filipinos prefer to receive gifts in kind, as cash, or as e-money?

According to Maki Pulido’s report on “Saksi” on Monday, GMA Integrated News conducted a poll among netizens on their gift preferences this Christmas season.

One netizen preferred to personally give cash to inaanaks so that they also observe the practice of “mano po.”

Another netizen agreed that cash is the best option, as their godchild might not like the gift they picked out for them.

“Siguro ano na lang, mas maganda na ‘yung cash kasi para sila na ‘yung mamili kung anong gusto nilang bilhin,” said a man interviewed by GMA Integrated News.

(I think it’s better to give cash so that they can just buy whatever they want.)

Chimed in a female interviewee: “Para sa akin lang, mas mabuti ‘yung cash kasi ‘yung cash kasi ‘yung mama na lang ‘yung bahala kung ano ang bibilhin niya.”

(For me, cash is better, because the mother will be the one to decide what to buy for the child.)

Other netizens said they preferred sending gifts through e-wallets to bridge the physical distance between the giver and the recipient.

However, others frowned on sending e-money as gifts to their loved ones as they believed that it is a lazy practice.

Yet others would rather buy actual items as gifts so that children won’t get used to money at a young age.

“In kind na lang po kasi, para sa akin mas maganda ‘yung practical. Katulad ng damit, magagamit po nila kaysa sa laruan,” a female interviewee said.

(I’d go for in kind, because for me it’s better to be practical. Like clothes, they can use it more than toys.)

Other Filipinos do not have any particular preference about gifts, as what matters is that families are together during Christmas. — JMA, GMA Integrated News