Novel venues for street carolers

Expect a roundup of carolers in major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, but they won’t go home empty-handed during the holidays.

Police and traffic personnel have been instructed to pick up children caroling in the middle of traffic on major thoroughfares beginning Dec. 1 to avoid accidents on the road, said Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman.

As a holiday gesture, the young carolers will be brought to  “activity centers,” possibly in their own barangays, where they will be learn how to make Christmas lanterns and maybe a new carol or two, among other activities, Soliman told the Inquirer.

“Caroling in the middle of traffic is very dangerous to children because they inhale fumes, catch colds or pneumonia, or worse, get run over,” she added. “But we don’t want to be scrooges and kill the spirit of Christmas. We will let them celebrate and sing carols in a safe place.”

The activity centers will be run by local welfare personnel and workers from non-government organizations.  A cash incentive of P75,000 will be provided  to  the participating barangays under the government program “Pasko ng Batang Pinoy.”

The youngsters will also get the chance to join a grand Christmas party on Dec. 22 at the Araneta Coliseum where Noche Buena packs and gifts await them and their families.

The mall chain, SM, has also offered to add cheer to the celebration by allowing street children to sing carols in designated areas in their malls, Soliman said.

“Selected children from the activity centers will be asked to stay in a designated place to carol and P5,000 will be given to every group,” she added.

And in anticipation of the arrival of Indigenous Peoples from Luzon and the Visayas in Metro Manila to beg in the streets or in neighborhoods, Soliman has also issued instructions to regional officials to hold a “gift-giving activity” for them in their areas.

“They don’t have to come down because it’s dangerous. They usually come here because they think people are generous this time of the year, and they do get a bit of money,” she said of groups of Aetas, Igorots and Mangyans who descend on the Metro during this time of the year.