I Was Once A Caroler Myself
Written by Major Tom
Filed under: Personal and Family
December 18, 2006
My o’ my, how time flies. A couple of nights ago, I was standing by our front gate after dinner, puffing some cigarettes when a group of kids approached me and asked, “Can we do some Christmas carols?”. I said, “Why not.” although I was a little taken aback not expecting that the season for carollings had already started. I had counted the days in my mind and indeed, it was already December 16, which is the day that children could go from house to house and sing Christmas carols and get some pennies for it. Of course, some adults would also be on the road clutching their guitars and banjos singing those heavenly songs more sublimely.
When this time of the year comes, it would be such a joy for me to fetch some coins for the kids as they would sing in front of our house one group after another, because for one I was once a kid too and of course, I wouldn’t be one of those scrooges who had turned us away when I was once one of those who would had rattled those homespun musical instruments (done with softdrink caps and a fairly sized piece of wood) from one doorway to another because I tell you, it wasn’t such a nice feeling to be spurned when one was a kid full of good intention and out to make some penny.
There is actually this one funny occasion in the past that I often remember when this time of the year comes and that was one time when some neighborhood friends and me had gone carolling. I was already in my early teens at that time when one night, after we had all taken that cool early evening shower and our belly already filled with dinners taken ahead of what was the regular time, we went by with a guitar in hand and went a little farther out from our area to sing those nifty Christmas carols. I remember so well this large wooden house with a steep stairway on its eastern side, the sort that old houses often had as an aperture, and then we sang with our hearts out and with so much gusto as I remember now. While we were singing, I could remember the man inside the house who had smiled so hard, and I had observed him so well because it wasn’t actually usual that people are so gleeful about carolers in the night. Usually, they would try to avoid being caroled upon to the point of turning off all their lights so early in the evening, making it appear like the people in the house are already asleep. Sometimes, huge and very noisy dogs would be waiting in front of their gates just to discourage would-be carolers. And often, even if they allow the singing, they would just want to get past it so quickly, handing out the pennies even before the first songs have ended.
After our last song, the man who had smiled so fully had invited us to come into their house and allowed us all a seat in the living room. We were in fact served softdrinks and saltine crackers. Of course we were a little surprised about the very kindly gesture. Inside my mind, I was thinking that the smiling man had adored our singing so much that he couldn’t get enough of it. Maybe he had wanted us to sing further. We don’t get this kind of patronage commonly; in fact, it was the only time that we were treated so kindly. Or so I thought.
As we were sipping our drinks, the man opened his mouth very slowly, like upon in a slow motion and uttered “”You know, I never heard a group of carolers who had sang as out of tune as you guys”. He was still smiling as he said those stinging words that until now, I could not forget his face while he was speaking and the way he had said those words right before our faces. My jaws dropped open suddenly and I felt so bad that I could have cried like an infant if I didn’t held back so hard. I stared at some of my companions and I could see that they must have been close to tears similarly. He went on by telling us who had sang so ridiculously high and the ones who had sang so ridiculously low and that the song came out so bad. I had thought that the man was so mean to say those things to us after inviting us inside his home, serve us some refreshments, only to be told that we have sang so out of tune.
When we were walking home ( we didn’t went further with our carollings that night and went straight back home) I remember that I had openly uttered to them that the guy was so mean to tell us those things after being so kind at first. Michael, the one who plays the guitar had told me not to mind it at all and we just have to practice our singing and improved on it the next time. But he had actually openly blamed the twins that had gone along with us—Liezl and Mia was their name as I remember now—for singing in such a very high tone, like in a scream. And the twins retorted by pointing at me to be the one who sang so low that our voices didn’t go along so well and the songs we sang came out so wrong.
Years after, every time I pass by our old neighborhood in Carmen St., I could not help but take a stare at that old house where the smiling man had lived, the man who was so blatant in his speech that he had made us all remember one night of our lives. In fact, even upto now, that old house is still standing. In front of that house, there is now a small billboard that announces that piano as well as guitar lessons are available there. In fact, last summer I had planned of enrolling my kids there for some piano lessons. It comes to me now that maybe, that smiling man had been so honest with us about our singing prowess because he was a musician himself, or he came from a family that had high musical lineage, and being one, he had the duty and obligation to tell us then how bad we had sang and to point out the things we were doing so wrong. Maybe he didn’t meant to be so abrupt then. Maybe he just wanted us to improve our singing. I think the smiling man inside the large and old wooden house wasn’t mean afterall.
Oh, I’m so sorry Major Tom. I know it’s not funny (especially at that time) but I laughed so hard when I got to the part where the man said you were all sintunado.
And he even pointed out who sang too high or too low. But he probably wasn’t mean. He was after all, smiling and even invited you for refreshments, so he was probably trying to make the blows not to hurt too much. One thing is for sure, he was definitely amused and entertained. And so am I with this entry. 
Comment by Toe — December 18, 2006 @ 7:21 pm
To Toe: It’s alright Toe. It is really very funny that in fact I could laugh at that past incident whenever I retell them to friends. It’s one of those stories that you couldn’t help but tell whenever there are get togethers. That smiling man must have really been of good intentions. He was just honest and straighforward because he must have been a music teacher or something—he has that standard, you know…
Comment by Major Tom — December 19, 2006 @ 8:23 am
i too did some caroling back in the days. i did it with my choir mates. we sent out letters to people we knew and set a date where we could go to their homes and sing carols. it was fun and good memories.
maybe the guy was trying to give you constructive criticism. anyways, he was kind enough to serve you guys some soda and crackers. hehe
cool new layout.
Comment by Jaypee — December 19, 2006 @ 10:12 am
That was funny, Major Tom. Being served some refreshments and then told how poorly you guys sang. I did some caroling also with my sister and four playmates, but we would only have those homemade noise makers as accompaniment (caps from softdrinks that were flattened and a hole drilled in the middle and then inserted in a circular thick wire). I guess since you guys had a guitarist, the music teacher expected more from you
Comment by eric — December 19, 2006 @ 11:10 am
that was one nice story. don’t feel bad. i was once asked (coerced) to sing and after a few lines, they had their hands in their ears. serves them right. sinabi na ngang hindi ako marunong kumanta eh!
kaya nga ako nagsusulat. hindi ako marunong kumanta. hehe.
Comment by atticus — December 19, 2006 @ 11:16 am
Maybe he did have good intentions, ala Simon Cowell of American Idol. But it must have hurt to hear something like that and you carry it through your adult life. Of course now, you can laugh at it.
I also went caroling with friends when I was in high school and I have an upcoming post about that experince.
Comment by niceheart — December 19, 2006 @ 12:29 pm
baka naawa sa inyo kaya kayo pianpasok at pinakain, tapos baka gusto kayong turuan
nasubukan ko na ring mangarolling at tama ka madalas ayaw na humarap o makinig ng mga mag ari ng bahay, either mag abot nalang ng piso or di ka papansinin.
Comment by iskoo — December 19, 2006 @ 3:16 pm
I can imagine the pointing part. But nowadays, these carollers, especially young children, as mean too. If you give them a small amount you’ll probably hear, ” ang babarat ninyo…hahaha.
But the idea of being in a group and sharing the night’s earnings is the best part.
Merry Christmas, Major Tom!
Comment by ipanema — December 19, 2006 @ 3:25 pm
To Jaypee: Oh, I’ve been also part of a glee club although it was for a very short period of time (for some reason). But in highschool I was part of a rondalla and angklung group that sent letters to selected residents and went even by bus just to go caroling. I enjoyed it so much especially the food they serve, the more affluent served really tasty food.
To eric: When we neighborhood kids we already sang with a guitar as an accompaniment although I remember that we still brang some jingles made out of tansans. That was probably what had occured, as a musician himself, he couldn’t stand mediocre or below par performances.
To atticus: Yun nga, If I really had the voice, I would have been part of a rock group now but the voice just wasn’t enough. In highschool, medyo nakapasok ako sa gleee club after a rigorous auditions pero parang pasang awa lang ang pagkuha sa akin kasi parang mas nagustuhan yata ng music teacher yung the way I have gestures when I sang rather than a good voice.
To niceheart: Truly, I felt so terrible at that time. But for certain now it is so heartwarming to look back at those kind of memories and think about the childhood friends I’ve got then.
To iskoo: Ha..ha.. parang yata siguro; kaya lang medyo marupok ang mga salita niya noon. But I think he was just being honest to some kids who were just barely in their teens…
To Ipanema: Yeah, that was so cruel in fact. He was even saying those words like he had no emotion whatsoever, like a cunning asssasin with a dreaded grin on his face. But I guess, maybe he was just so frank to kids who seem to be just starting to do what should be practiced so hard.
Merry Christmas to you too Ipanema and also to everyone; May you all have a prosperous new year.
Comment by Major Tom — December 19, 2006 @ 4:44 pm
I know how one feels when someone tells them how bad they are at this and that. I’ve passed through many of that kind of comments, especially in my Advertising program, where it’s a dog-eat-dog game. But he has a point, maybe he just wants to criticize people just to improve their performance.
It isn’t that bad because he tells honestly what he is thinking or feeling. It’s a constructive criticism to put it simply, yet we must listen to only sensible criticisms, one that we can feel appropriate or something that could help us improve, because not all criticisms are good and some of them are a hell lot of crap.
Comment by JV — December 19, 2006 @ 7:36 pm
To JV: Constructive criticism it must have been because I remember that after that experienced, I had tried so hard to improve my singing prowess, singing while in the shower or washing the dishes when I was so young. Maybe I could even thank that guy because after that, it seems that I had became a music lover for good.
Comment by Major Tom — December 20, 2006 @ 3:10 pm
Merry Christmas major Tom!
Comment by Luchie — December 22, 2006 @ 9:42 am
To Luchie: Merry Christmas to you and may the incoming year becomes more and more joyous to you and your family…
Comment by Major Tom — December 22, 2006 @ 12:28 pm
Major Tom, dropped by to wish you and your entire family the best!
Comment by eric — December 23, 2006 @ 5:22 pm
Merry Christmas and have a Wonderful New Year!
Comment by JV — December 23, 2006 @ 5:43 pm
Heya Bro, let me take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New year ahead.
Comment by snglguy — December 23, 2006 @ 8:41 pm
i had tried to set a precedent in our neighborhood in makati a few years back, to give candies and sweets to carollers instead of loose change. i had placed several pieces of egg chocolate and candies in long thin plastic bags (the ones you made ice candy in) and readied myself for the first carollers that night. when i handed out the goodies after their song, one kid said “Ay, kendi?” like she’d rather have a single peso than the goodies i had prepared. such jaded kids we have these days, that equate bringing holiday cheer with money. i had never entertained carollers since then. bad ba ako?
happy holidays, major tom!
Comment by bambit — December 24, 2006 @ 12:03 am
Haha. At least you were treated to a merienda.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Major Tom!
Comment by Abaniko — December 24, 2006 @ 10:02 am
Heh that’s funny.
Happy Holidays to you and your family, Major Tom.
Comment by Daphne — December 24, 2006 @ 7:09 pm
Merry, merry Christmas, Major Tom!
Comment by JV — December 25, 2006 @ 10:31 am
To bambit: Yeah, I remember how some houses in the past—not so many of em in fact—gave candies and some other goodies rather than pennies. It was unusual even at that time but I remember having appreciated it coz I felt that anything given wholeheartedly is so worthwhile.
But you know, children seem to be used to being handed coins rather than goodies; me thinks itrs a psychological thing….
To Abaniko: Quite a very late merienda but it was refreshing…kanya lang, medyo nasaktan ang mga egos namin. Pero that’s ok naman, it was a learning experience I guess.
TO EVERYONE: MERRY XMAS TO YOU ALL AND MAY YOU ALL HAVE A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR…
Comment by Major Tom — December 26, 2006 @ 3:08 am
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
More wealth and good health this coming year.
Comment by myepinoy — December 26, 2006 @ 11:42 pm
Happy New Year, Major Tom!!!
Comment by ipanema — December 30, 2006 @ 5:32 pm
the man has a good heart. it is so seldom that people invite stranger carolers in their house. mind if i link you? happy new year.
Comment by curacha — December 31, 2006 @ 1:20 am
Happy, happy New Year, Major Tom!
Comment by JV — December 31, 2006 @ 7:25 pm
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones, bro.
Comment by snglguy — January 1, 2007 @ 12:29 am
May this year bring
More Blessings
Good Health, Success, Joy
And Love to you and your family
Happy New Year!
Comment by cruise — January 1, 2007 @ 12:49 pm