Santa’s #1 caroler sighted

I can neither confirm nor deny it because I was not there when it happened. But I was informed that sometime Friday, Aug. 8, 2025 or 8/8 or double 8, the harbinger of Christmas in the Philippines, Santa’s #1 Philippine caroler, sang an advanced set of Christmas carols in August instead of September!

My sources confirmed that Jose Mari Chan did indeed sing a few Christmas carols but not to officially usher in the celebration of the longest Christmas season in the world.

“A month before the -ber months, one of the world’s longest holiday season, Metrobank launched its early holiday season advocacy and offers at a media event last Aug. 8 at One Ayala Malls.

“The event was made more meaningful and underscored the pre-holiday call to act early, as Jose Mari Chan, the country’s holiday season icon, serenaded the audience with the earliest carols of the year, to help spread the message of early planning and joyful, purposeful spending.”

The Metrobank event actually showcased the transition of Metrobank’s promise “You’re in good hands” to a growing and more mature invitation: “Let’s grow together,” reflecting the bank’s 60 years of partnership with their clients and the public at large.

The second part of the presentation was a very timely reminder about financial mindfulness, focusing on Filipino behavior during the Christmas holidays.

We all know that entering into the fourth quarter, many of us start making wish lists about what we want for Christmas, what we want to give a loved one for Christmas and when we can start buying.

The trigger is usually the yearend or 13th month bonus, a small windfall from our annual performance or some sort of financial gift we are expecting from parents, a spouse or patron.

But alongside that is the statistic that household spending spikes by 26 percent during the holiday season. The money is spent even before we get it, then we get buyer’s remorse in January next year, leading to “resolutions that have an 88 to 92 percent chance of failure.”

The campaign objective is “Financial Mindfulness.” You know you will get money, and you know you will spend all that money on material goods and then you’ll regret it because you chose instant gratification instead of long-term stability.

With financial awareness comes having a goal and a plan and a mechanism to avoid financial regret. That is Metrobank’s G.I.F.T to you.

“We aim to make more financially resilient Filipinos and this mindset change can start by making August as the new Financial Resolutions Month. If you wait until the new year to make your new year’s resolutions, you are more likely to be one of the eight out of 10 people who are not able to fulfill them.

“That’s because you would be making your resolutions after the biggest opportunity to save or spend purposefully would have passed during the holidays.

“Whilst August is usually known for the start of the ghost month, we believe that it can be a time to be proactive, not passive. A time to take charge of the life you want to build by starting with a simple action of setting at least one goal early before the holidays, that’s an early gift you can give to yourself.”

In 2024, Metrobank introduced G.I.F.T., a new pre-holiday tradition that encourages Filipinos to plan ahead of the holidays using four practical financial principles.

Get guided with goals: Setting your goals earlier in August gives you more time and a clearer headspace to strategically plan before the biggest spending season or saving opportunity season of the year.

Invest a portion of your bonus: As you receive your bonus during the holidays, commit to reserving a portion for investments that grow in value.

Follow a budget: As you find the perfect presents and make celebration plans this holiday season for those who are close to your heart, it is important that you still follow a budget plan.

Take advantage of deals: The season offers an amazing opportunity to maximize your savings and be more mindful of your spending by keeping an eye out for value-based offers.

This year, according to Digs Dimagiba, Metrobank’s chief marketing officer, Metrobank is taking the next step with the introduction of the #EarlyGIFT Challenge – encouraging Filipinos to take concrete action towards their dreams.

To join the #EarlyGIFT challenge, all one needs to do is follow these steps:

• Write down one goal they truly want to achieve in the next 12 months;

• Share it on social media with the hashtag #EarlyGIFT;

• Invite their family and friends to do the same by tagging them on the post.

“By turning goal-setting into a public commitment, the campaign hopes to create a ripple effect of early action and financial mindfulness across communities.

“With the gift of an early start, and the right financial guidance, Metrobank aims to help empower Filipinos to take proactive steps towards their goals now – ensuring a more secure and prosperous future.”

A successful community is not only composed of stable and sustainable businesses – it also needs financially empowered individuals to thrive and succeed.

Metrobank is committed to an advocacy of creating a mindset of financial mindfulness with Filipinos, as it believes that people who are able to manage their finances well are also better able to make better decisions in life.

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