Proem

Have you ever noticed that in activities like dramas, stage shows beauty contest, etc., the town and provincial officials and other important persons are not made to pay admission fee?

In fact if you are not made to pay, you are looked up to as someone important.
This practice is not very prevalent nowadays, but up to the 1960s, it was still the common practice.

American Culture

In the American culture, it is very common to have dinners for $500 or $1,000 per plate for fund raising for political campaigns. The more money you pay for the dinner, the more you are considered as an important person.

This American practice is not repeated in our place during political campaigns because the more important you are the more you will be pampered by the politicians. You will not be made to pay; in some cases the important person is the one paid.

Spanish Era

During the Spanish era, if you were a Spaniard you will not be made to pay taxes.

Important native persons like the Gobernadorcillo (now Mayor) were also exempted from paying taxes. So a native that was not made to pay taxes and other impositions was looked up to as someone important because the colonizers exempted him from paying.

In any activity, the Parish priest was always exempted from payment. The Alferez and the Guardia Civil were also exempted. However, if these people will attend your activity it was considered a very great honor and a source of pride of the organizers.

This practice was still prevalent during the American era in the Philippines. But gradually the natives noticed that the Americans had a different attitude. If possible they would want to pay. Nowadays, the free admissions to important persons are no longer very prevalent but it is still existing.

Reversed During Christmas and Election

If the rich and important persons are not expected to pay during community activities, they are however expected to give more during Christmas. The politicians are expected to give money to the voters during elections.

In the American culture, if you go on caroling to other houses, you will be the one expected to bring gifts. In our case if you go on caroling you expect to be given money.

In the American culture, the voter will give money to the candidate that he supports. In our case, we ask money from the candidate that we support.

Caroling is an American practice. During the Spanish era, what were practiced were the daygon and the pastores. These groups were invited to the house of the rich. They were paid after their performance. However, the daygon and the pastores were banned in Bohol during the late 1960s and early 1970s mostly by municipal ordinances just like the serenade or harána. However, the children were still allowed to "carol." So the children go on caroling but instead they expect to receive money. They do not know that they were supposed to be the one to give gifts in accordance to American practice.

The case of the election time is a very peculiar twist of a cultural practice. During Spanish times, no candidate will give money because to be elected was a burden.

During the American era, the candidates did not also give money.

The practice came about because during the American era, because the voting was conducted at the town center or poblacion. Naturally, the candidates will feed his supporters coming from far away places. In some cases, the transportation and lodging expenses was paid for by the candidates.

Nowadays, this practice is still very common during political party conventions. Since voting are now made in many precincts throughout the town or province, the candidate will endeavor to give transportation expenses to his supporters. Even though election laws ban this practice, the voters still want transportation money. They threaten to vote only for the candidates who provide transportation money.

I have made poll surveys since 1978 and it was only in the election of 2004 that the Boholano mentality had changed. The voters will not if not given money - period. No explanation is given why they want money. Even the rich and professionals want to be given money! But here is a caveat to the politicians. The rich and professionals will still vote according to their choice. However, if you will not give money, then you're not part of the choice.