Most Pinoys prefer cash gifts this Christmas

MANILA, Philippines - Most Filipinos prefer cash gifts over non-monetary gifts this Christmas, a Western Union-sponsored survey showed.

The survey conducted last November among Filipinos who have received gifts from overseas and local senders found money as the most preferred gift.

Patricia Riingen, senior vice president of Western Union Pacific and Indo-China, said most families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) spend the money they receive from relatives abroad for celebrations, treating others or even sharing part of the money.

“Giving beats out spending on one’s self and this holds true for both senders whether they are OFWs or workers here in the Philippines and receivers. We call this the Santa Claus effect,” Riiengen said.

“Gifts of money spread goodwill,” she added.

Riingen said monetary gifts usually preferred as they are more practical to send and eliminate the risk of giving a present that will not be appreciated.

Riingen likewise noted that OFWs nowadays prefer to send money to their families rather than the traditional balikbayan box.

“Sending balikbayan boxes require a lot of planning whereas sending money is easier,” she said.

Riingen also said that data show that OFWs send more money to their families during the Christmas season.

Western Union, one of the leading money transfer companies in the world, launched yesterday its “Wish-mas tree” project at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration’s Balik Mangggawa Center which enables Filipinos to spread Christmas cheer by hanging their wishes for their loved ones on the Wish-mas tree.