The Monito-Monita Filipino Tradition in Gift Giving

Two months more and the world will be celebrating Christmas, a season of gift giving. The Philippines is noted for the longest Christmas celebration because Filipinos just love Christmas.

One of the Filipino traditions during Christmas is the exchange of gifts between families or friends. A simple way of exchanging gifts is bringing a gift to the Christmas party of which the amount is agreed upon by the participants. Each gift will be numbered and raffled off during the Christmas party.

Another variation of giving gifts during the Christmas season is the Kris Kringle or the Monito/Monita. Mostly this is done among classmates, office mates or among a group of friends. It slightly differs from the usual exchanging gifts because you will know in advance to whom you will give a Christmas present during your group’s Christmas party.

The Pinoy’s Monito/Monita is a modification of the Secret Santa (Western countries), Kris Kringle or Christkindl (German), Sinter Klass in Dutch, Father Christmas in England and Pere Noel in France.

Noted for the values of friendship and camaraderie (pakikisama), the Manito-Manita highlights the gift giving nature and creativity of the Filipinos.

The Mechanics of Monito/Monita

• Each member of the group has to write his/her name on a small piece of paper then placed it in a box or bowl.

• After mixing the papers in the box, each one take turns in picking up a paper. The name written on the paper will be your Monito if a guy or Monita if a girl.

• Keep your Manito or Manita’s name secret; do not divulge it to other participants. It is only during revelation that you can openly say the name you got for your Monito/ Monita. The guessing game will add to the excitement to your Christmas party.

• You have to give a small gift to your Monito/Monita every week if you have started earlier or every day if you begin the activity on a date near your Christmas festivities.

The  group should agree on the frequency of your gift- giving, the minimum amount for the small token and the themes of what item to give in a particular day or week. This is done to be fair with everyone and to guide the participants.

The amount of the periodic gift can go between P10 to P50 depending on the consensus of the group. Nevertheless, this does not mean that you cannot give a present in excess of the set amount. Your Manito or Manita will surely be happy to receive your gift. You can be generous enough to give more. Anyway, it’s Christmas season!

• Put your weekly or daily small gifts in a box or under the Christmas tree in your office or classroom. Be sure you will not get caught by your recipient in doing this to sustain the element of surprise come Revelation Day.

• You will hand your final gift to your Monito or Monita during the Revelation which usually took place when you have your Christmas Party.

The amount of the gift to be given during the Revelation Day is oftentimes higher and grandiose than the periodic token. Just like the periodic token, the cost of the last gift should be agreed upon by the group members.

For students, mostly the amount for the Kris Kringle varies from P100 to P200. While for offices, the final gift usually ranges from P200 to P500.

Sample Themes for the Monito-Monita gift giving

Here are sample themes of what to give to your Monito/Monita in your weekly or daily gift-giving.

• Something sweet- candies, chocolates, cakes, fruits
• Something sour- calamansi, sour candy balls, tamarind, vinegar
• Something round- Christmas balls, oranges, grapes
• Something soft- marshmallow, chewy candies, cakes, cotton
• Something colorful- crayon, colored pencils, candies, Christmas decors
• Something long- pen, pencil, ruler, candy cane
• Something hard-ref decors, can opener, picture frame, key chain
• Something wet- gel, lotion, cologne
• Something useful-handkerchief, hair clip, mug, notebook, face towel
• Something funny- kid toys, comic books, mugs with hilarious prints, funny cards
• Something shiny- blank CD or DVD, a sandwich wrapped in aluminum foil, yema or polvoron enclosed in a cellophane

You will find it amazing to see the different ideas of the participants as each one give the small “something” to his/her monito or monita.

When you give your small periodic gift, think of something that makes the receiver feels important. This will make your partner pleasantly anticipating who the giver is!

Code Names for the Monito/Monita

You can make a twist to your Monito/Monita. Each one of the group can adopt a code name, like a cartoon or a Disney character, famous movie personality, or a name that is not easy to figure out by the other members. This can contribute to the thrill as everyone would like to know the identity of the name they have picked up.

Monito/Monita Wish List

In some group, the participants are asked to write what gifts they would like to receive. This is called the “Christmas wish list”. Group members can post their wish list on a bulletin board or drop it in the same box where each one got the name of his/her Monito/Monita.

It is advantageous for your group to have a wish list. It guides the giver to make good choices on what Christmas present to give which can make his or her monito/monita happy. In having a list the recipient will also get something he/she expected to receive as a Christmas gift.

However, you can still opt to give something not included in the wish list if you feel that the gift you selected will be more valued by your Monito/Monita.

The Revelation Day

The highlight of the Monito/Monita is the giving of the final Christmas gift during the Revelation Day. This is the time when each one will know who got their names.

Since this will be your last gift to your Monito or Monita, pick carefully your final Christmas present. You want to give happiness to your Monito or Monita this Christmas, right?

How is the final gift given during the Big Reveal?

 Often times when your office or classroom has a Christmas tree, the final gifts are placed at the foot or near the  tree.

 When the revelation starts, the group members pick up their gifts and usually form a circle and sing the lyrics of the “Monito/Monita” song.

           I love my Monito (Monita) – Yes I do

           I love my Monito (Monita) – Yes I do

           I love my Monito (Monita) – Yes I do

           I love my Monito (Monita) – but I won’t tell you!

As the group is singing this special song, one member will go to the center of the circle, reveal who is her Monito or Monita is and give the gift to him/her.  While the singing continued, it is now the moment of the recipient to hand-in his/her gift to his/her own Monito or Monita. The activity will continue until each have given or receive his/her gift from his or her own secret Santa.

Choosing a gift that comes from your heart will surely give joy to your Monito or Monita. It is your way of saying Merry Christmas to him or her.

So, why not create your own periodic gift giving themes and have more fun with your Monito Monita  this Christmas?

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