The Godfather

[jpbago]

Has anyone had experiences in being a godfather in PI? I said no once and now am asked again. What are my obligations? In Canada, usually it is a relative that takes your name as their middle name and not much more. In PI, one can have 20 or more godfathers and no names are used. I think that there is ceremony that the foreigner has to pay 7,000p. Then for the rest of your life, you have to give money to the child at Christmas and on their birthdays. Maybe there is ongoing support as well like schooling. Maybe if the parents split up or fall on hard times, then you have to raise the child. If the child gets sick or needs braces, do I have to pay? Is it like the one with the most money has to pay all the time? I try to get info from the Filipinos but they seem reluctant to tell me much until I sign the papers.

[Mike S]

Yup to just about all of the above ..... I refuse to be the godfather to anyone ...... JMHO  ..... :thumbsup:

:cheersty:

[Jake]

Has anyone had experiences in being a godfather in PI? I said no once and now am asked again. What are my obligations? In Canada, usually it is a relative that takes your name as their middle name and not much more. In PI, one can have 20 or more godfathers and no names are used. I think that there is ceremony that the foreigner has to pay 7,000p. Then for the rest of your life, you have to give money to the child at Christmas and on their birthdays. Maybe there is ongoing support as well like schooling. Maybe if the parents split up or fall on hard times, then you have to raise the child. If the child gets sick or needs braces, do I have to pay? Is it like the one with the most money has to pay all the time? I try to get info from the Filipinos but they seem reluctant to tell me much until I sign the papers.

....try to get info from the Filipinos but they seem reluctant to tell me much until I sign the papers

 

That's the smoking gun -- undeniable evidence about the pitfalls of being a godfather.  Many govt official

from barangay captains to the highest office are being asked to sponsor a wedding or birth.  

 

It's Mo Pun in da Pill-lip-peens 

[GregZ]

Has anyone had experiences in being a godfather in PI?

 

Godfather here.... no paper signing.  No required support.  Just they want me, because I'm so special, to be 1 of 4 named godfathers.  We visited at the Christening day so we could go to the church and make a sign of the cross on the baby's forehead during the ceremony.  I did buy the cake at the Christening (optional) and will likely give other things along the way.  But that is what I like to do anyway... it is all about the little people.

 

They also know that if I am godfather it is more likely that we will come visit and they love to have company there.  They were about to cry when we said that I would be godfather but that we might not be able to attend the ceremony.  The place I am talking about is one fabulous place to visit though... right on the beach, retired PNP chief's house, always cooking lots of great food.

 

Maybe different in other places?  I am godfather on Mindanao and will soon be on Cebu also.  Same family...  They love me so much. :541:   My family treats the godfather thing the same as everything else, they normally do not ask for anything while glad to accept everything.  Your results may vary. :tiphat:

[Jake]

 

 

Has anyone had experiences in being a godfather in PI?

 

Godfather here.... no paper signing.  No required support.  Just they want me, because I'm so special, to be 1 of 4 named godfathers.  We visited at the Christening day so we could go to the church and make a sign of the cross on the baby's forehead during the ceremony.  I did buy the cake at the Christening (optional) and will likely give other things along the way.  But that is what I like to do anyway... it is all about the little people.

 

They also know that if I am godfather it is more likely that we will come visit and they love to have company there.  They were about to cry when we said that I would be godfather but that we might not be able to attend the ceremony.  The place I am talking about is one fabulous place to visit though... right on the beach, retired PNP chief's house, always cooking lots of great food.

 

Maybe different in other places?  I am godfather on Mindanao and will soon be on Cebu also.  Same family...  They love me so much. :541:   My family treats the godfather thing the same as everything else, they normally do not ask for anything while glad to accept everything.  Your results may vary. :tiphat:

It's very refreshing to know that the noble position of being a godfather is still being practice using

the old school traditions.  I salute you GregZ for your love and respect for the little people.  Your

charm and grace has also given you many opportunities to be in the right circle of friends and family.  

 

I believe you mentioned that you're into some serious photography.  I would love to see that massive

spread of Filipino food being cooked by the retired PNP chief and his staff.  I bet you he loves to cook

even for a couple hundred people and doesn't need a written recipe.  His bar and man cave must be

awesome!  

 

Well done my friend -- Jake

[Thomas]

Oh you ment such Godfather. When I saw the headline, I thought it was mafia related    :lol:

 

---

The only I have heared SEEM to be similar as it was here in Sweden, when it was poor here   =Some relatives/friends are signed up as godfathers and godmothers. In Sweden they were ment to take care of the child if the PARENTS DIE, but NOT to take care of it in general.

 

A difference though - each godfather/-mother get a (small) amount. (Them I heared of got 50 p each, but being around 10, mainly cousins and such.) The kid is from a poor family, but not the porest. They don't starve, but their home is a "henhouse" as calling it themselves. They had trouble finding such money, and around 500 to church and to a small celebration. Perhaps they see the pay as an insurance fee?  

[GregZ]

food being cooked by the retired PNP chief and his staff.

 

G Gar Christening photos with the food!!!  I'll leave this one public for a while so anyone can look... from facebook.

# 73 is the food spread... shrimp, crab, fish, goat, pork.... yeah.  There is no food cooked by the PNP retiree that I know of ... wife, daughters, cousins... you know.  Retiree is outback tagay (drinking, literally means 'pour' in Visaya) and telling war stories. :cheersty:

 

Just thought I would mention that I am godfather to my nephew in the USA and my sister called one day thinking that since I was the godfather I should buy him a car.  I told her that he needed a new godfather in that case.  Problem solved.  Point is that human nature is always looking for the handout.  Here she would have had more godfathers to ask... :hystery:

[JJReyes]

The origins of having a godfather and godmother at a baptism was to assure the child's upbringing as a Christian. The godparents served as guarantors to the church. This is the reason why they stand with the parents in front of the priest. It morphed into a financial obligation to care for the child if the parents couldn't. Poorer families would ask wealthier ones to become the godfather or godmother to assure the needs of the child in case something happened to them.

 

Avoid if you can. The whole system is riddled with abuse. I have heard stories wherein the child's father is out of a job. The relationship obligates either the godfather or godmother to help him find employment. Another is the ability to borrow money from the godfather.