I think I’m in the middle.

Sa circle of friends/colleagues ko, unless it’s clarified before ordering that someone is paying for the meal, it is understood to be dutch treat. Normally, kahit sino kasama ko, I always pay/ offer to pay my share. Now, there are times when they would make “kantiyaw” pa-Mc Do ka naman - I sometimes give in or pag birthday ko - nanlilibre ako.

When I go home, it’s a different case. Ang usual experience ng OFW, nagpapalibre friends nila pag umuuwi sila. Kabaligtaran yong akin. Normally, kailangan ko pa kutchabahin yong waiter na ako magbabayad kasi ayaw akong pagbayarin ng friends ko.

share ko lang whenever officemates do eatout parties here in japan. wud u believe it’s always dutch treat? (except those being welcomed or se despidir) The bill’s split among party invitees the next day, 4000 yen ($40) is typical. Mind you, kahit bday or wedding pala invitees pay! (prepare 30000 yen or $300 for kasal). Kaya siguro talagang happy bday dito hehehe. Or at least the Japanese have the good sense of NOT making bdays, weddings and eatouts bankruptcy events as is the case in Pinas

I believe I’m in the middle too.

If the budget is not high for treating friends when I got home, its fine with me. Or if meron kahati (may ibang umuwi besides me), then its better.

Kung barkada night out, its normally divided equally.

@nina… really? Your friends in the Phils wont let you pay???? Ok kaibiganin mga friends mo…. hehehe

nina, bait nga ng mga friends mo

hachiko, long time no hear! dutch treat at weddings?!! no kidding. let’s import that here instead of plasticware! you are so right about birthdays and weddings as bankruptcy events. gotta keep that in mind: my seven year old is turning 8 this month and i’m starting to get into the groove of being a party planner!

mzkukuro, good for you! my barkada has for the past few years relegated one house to be our tambayan and we eat there instead of going out. last time we had an oyster party. imagine 200 pesos for a big bucket of fresh oysters. and i mean big bucket, as high as my waist! we even had take-home. i guess as we grow older, we treasure more the conversation than the loud music, huh.

@mzkukuro,
yes, my friends won’t allow me to pay Ako naman nakikipag unahan kasi minsan-minsan ko lang sila makita.

@Salve,
Minsa pag may kakuwentuhan akong ibang OFW, ayaw ng magpakita sa mga barkada nila pag umuuwi kasi magastos daw

What is charity then?

For me charity is helping someone by empowering them. there are many ways to this: 1) you can help a house helper who has stopped schooling due to financial problems by sending them to night school or vocational school. 2) by contributing P450 a month, you can send a less fortunate child to school thru World Vision. 3) or sometimes helping doesn’t involve money at all. I met a Filipino pastor when I used to work in Singapore who runs his own computer shop there. He conducts free computer classes to Pinay DH in SG on Sundays in his shop (so instead of engaging in “chismisan” during their day off with their fellow DH, they empower themselves by attending these classes).

So, you see, charity doesn’t have to mean giving until it hurts. And oh, it doesn’t have to involve many people. You cannot change the world overnight. But you can change the world by helping one person at a time….