Santa's #1 caroler sighted

CTALK

- CITO BELTRAN

I can neither confirm nor deny it because I was not there when it happened. But I was informed that sometime Friday, Aug. 8, 2025 or 8/8 or double 8, the harbinger of Christmas in the Philippines, Santa's #1 Philippine caroler, sang an advanced set of Christmas carols in August instead of September!

My sources confirmed that Jose Mari Chan did indeed sing a few Christmas carols but not to officially usher in the celebration of the longest Christmas season in the world.

"A month before the -ber months, one of the world's longest holiday season, Metrobank launched its early holiday season advocacy and offers at a media event last Aug. 8 at One Ayala Malls.

"The event was made more meaningful and underscored the pre-holiday call to act early, as Jose Mari Chan, the country's holiday season icon, serenaded the audience with the earliest carols of the year, to help spread the message of early planning and joyful, purposeful spending."

The Metrobank event actually showcased the transition of Metrobank's promise "You're in good hands" to a growing and more mature invitation: "Let's grow together," reflecting the bank's 60 years of partnership with their clients and the public at large.

The second part of the presentation was a very timely reminder about financial mindfulness, focusing on Filipino behavior during the Christmas holidays.

We all know that entering into the fourth quarter, many of us start making wish lists about what we want for Christmas, what we want to give a loved one for Christmas and when we can start buying.