Nating's tale of earning through Christmas carols

Christmas caroling has always been part of the tradition of celebrating the season, but for others it is a means of livelihood during the holidays. Others do it for fun, fund raising, but for the less fortunate it is a way to earn.

Some carolers go from house to house singing traditional jingles while others do their own version of transcoding the latest tracks into a Christmas carol just as kids do their caroling on jeepneys during a red light.

Not minding the risk of falling down from the jeepney as they serenade the commuters with their own versions of Christmas carols, kids gallantly sing their hearts out with an accompaniment of an improvised self-made tambourines out of softdrink caps attached to a piece of bamboo just to earn a few pesos.

Let's take a closer look on the life of one caroler, 35 year old Nating Ladan who makes a living out of caroling with her children every year.

Nating, whose husband died six years ago, has tried many little jobs to be able to raise her four children - three sons and a daughter.

While her two other sons, both high school students, are in school, Nating together with her two younger children do caroling from house to house starting off at ten in the morning and retreating by eight in the evening.

She earns around P350 to P480 per day through caroling.

Nating has tried many jobs just to be able to feed her kids and buy the things that they need. She has tried being a bicycle driver, clothes washer, and a rag vendor during ordinary days and a caroler during the holidays.

"Ganahan ra man sad ko sa akong kahimtang karon kay nabuhi nako ang akong mga anak bisan ug wala nakoy bana, ug buhaton nako ang tanan para dili sila mapareha nako na modako nga walay alamag, ug dako gyud kog pasalamat sa Ginoo ug tood wala ko niya pasagdi, she said. ("I am satisfied with my status now because I'm able to provide for my children's needs despite the fact that I no longer have a husband. I will do my very best so I can send them to school and not end up an illiterate like me. I thank the Lord for not forsaking us.")

She claims that she has a closely-knit family and that even though they are not rich, they are happy and contented with what God has given them.

Nating, a native of Bohol, shared that there are also times when rich people drive them away from caroling at their huge houses and has in fact been threatened to deal with the dogs if they don't stop singing.

Nating started caroling with her kids since 1995. She strolls around town of Cebu and sometimes in other cities.

She considers caroling as the best job so far that she has ever tried because money is easy although at times it comes in trickles.