Flaunting Wealth or Cultivating Creative Spirit?

In the age of social media judgment, a simple graduation photo has sparked controversy: a single mother adorns her son with a money garland, juxtaposed against billionaire Manny Pacquiao's restrained celebration, and dubbed "rich and feeling rich." Critics swiftly condemn the mother's gesture as flaunting wealth. However, this short commentary challenges this narrative, arguing that the garland is a heartfelt expression of her love and pride, earned through hard work and sacrifices to see her son through high school. Rather than viewing it as flaunting wealth, let us see it as a cultivation of creative spirit, making graduation day a memorable occasion for both the mother and child. Let us not be quick to pass judgment; instead, let us show empathy and understanding towards the mother's celebration of her son's achievement.

I came across these photos of the Pacquiao family and an unidentified mother on their children's graduation day with the caption: "Rich and Feeling Rich." This is clearly an attempt to criticize the mother who placed a money garland (worth more than 100,000 pesos) on her son. Some people, including educators, are offended by the mother's act, perceiving the money garland as insensitive or ostentatious in the face of economic disparities. They argue that such an act flaunts wealth and disregards the struggles of those less fortunate. Some teachers have called on parents to avoid gifting their children with money garlands, seeing it as flaunting wealth and disregarding the struggles of those less fortunate.

As usual, we take the unpopular, alternative view of this issue.

I previously commented on the money garland incident, highlighting how we often get disturbed by such displays of wealth yet fail to question the scandalous wealth of the few, particularly politicians who openly flaunt their riches in public without repercussions. During Pope Francis's visit to the Philippines, he tasked the political leaders to end the scandalous social inequality and injustice in the country, issues that often go unaddressed despite their ostentatious displays of wealth. This prophetic message should have also been directed by the Pope to the Filipino clergy, who spent 136 million pesos on the renovation of the Manila Cathedral in preparation for the papal visit.

We often get disturbed by such displays of wealth yet fail to question the scandalous wealth of the few, particularly politicians who openly flaunt their riches in public without repercussions.

On the issue of Inequity in Philippine Education, Fr. Leonardo Estioko wrote: "We have been conditioned 'thinking in grooves' and thinking in isolation. We are afraid of being subversives questioning structures, we were taught to think small. We see the problems, like that of equity, apart from the socio-political issue. And so we come up with superficial solutions. We are not educating people to think critically who will dare question even the very structures of society of which we are victims." Father Estioko's criticism highlights the significant issue of educational disparity between wealthy and poor children, where the rich often receive better educational opportunities. This inequality perpetuates social divisions and limits upward mobility for disadvantaged children. He argues that focusing on incidents like the money garland obscures the larger scandal of unequal access to education, which perpetuates economic inequality.

We fail to see how educational inequity is tied to economic and social inequality, which is historical and structural, not just behavioral. While we are offended by ordinary people's displays of wealth, like the single mother in this case, we do not question the systems or structures that widen and perpetuate the gap between the rich and the poor. Father Estioko's critique calls for societal action to prioritize addressing these systemic issues and advocating for policies that ensure equitable educational opportunities for all children, regardless of their economic status.

Mothers who can afford it, not necessarily flaunting wealth, avail themselves of this service for a fee. It makes them feel good and happy.

I enclosed a photo of a child wrapped like a mummy (I don't know what they call this photoshoot). I learned that this creative way of wrapping a child is for a photoshoot. It's a new trend, most likely crafted by photographers to entice mothers to take memorial photos of their newborns. It's a profitable creativity. Mothers who can afford it, not necessarily flaunting wealth, avail themselves of this service for a fee. It makes them feel good and happy. Perhaps, when they show the photos and how creatively they made the moment memorable for their child when she grows up, the child will feel special. This happiness can't be bought with money, or the money spent on this photoshoot is far less valuable compared to the happiness of the mother and child.

This creative idea can also be seen in the birthday money cake, where the birthday celebrant is gifted with real money, often in various paper denominations. I recall how the elderly mother was startled in surprise to find P100,000 or 100 pieces of P1,000 bills on her birthday cake. Typically, this gesture is given by a well-to-do child or siblings pooling money together as an expression of gratitude and love to their elderly parents. We've heard people commenting "sana all," expressing their wish to also give a birthday money cake to their parents. Such gestures are not seen as insensitive or ostentatious, despite economic disparities. Based on a March 2024 SWS survey, 76% of Filipino families considered themselves as poor and borderline poor, 69% as food-poor and borderline, and 14.2% of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger — being hungry and not having anything to eat — at least once in the past three months.

In this issue of "rich and feeling rich," let's consider it from a creative perspective. We don't know the mother's story; perhaps she is a single mom who wanted to make her son's day memorable. Certainly, she made efforts to ensure this graduation day was unforgettable. Unfortunately, our toxic culture often gets in the way, making the mother and child feel bad about what happened on graduation day.

They take the time to fold and arrange the money, often in creative designs such as money bouquets, money garlands, birthday money cakes, and similar creations. This shows their effort and thoughtfulness.

Middle-income families, even rich families with a creative spirit, often show creativity by making their children happy with money garlands. Unlike wealthy families who might simply use traditional garlands with fresh orchids, middle-income families use real money to create something special. This not only makes the garland more valuable but also adds a personal touch.

They take the time to fold and arrange the money, often in creative designs such as money bouquets, money garlands, birthday money cakes, and similar creations. This shows their effort and thoughtfulness. I saw a money garland made with twenty pesos, fifty pesos, hundred pesos, two hundred pesos, five hundred pesos, one thousand pesos, or any combination of these denominations. Like the creative baby wrapping, you can buy money garlands online. The money garland with a mix of different denominations is colorful and unique. It also has a practical aspect since the money can be used later.

This kind of creativity shows that happiness doesn’t always come from expensive things. Instead, it comes from the effort and love put into making something special. Middle-income families use their creativity to turn simple materials into meaningful gifts, making their children feel cherished and happy.

Graduation day is very special to parents. Creative parents find ways to make this day memorable, not simply flaunting wealth as many envious people portrayed the mother who put the money garland on her son. If this is a single mother, we can only imagine her sacrifices in ensuring her child is educated. This makes the photo, despite the money garland, extra special not only for the child but for the mother as well.

When I look at photos, I am trained to ask, "Who is not present in the photo?" In the graduation photo of mother and son, where is the father? He might be working abroad and cannot be present for his son's graduation. Either the mother is a single parent, or the father is far away. Graduation day is very special to parents. Creative parents find ways to make this day memorable, not simply flaunting wealth as many envious people portrayed the mother who put the money garland on her son. If this is a single mother, we can only imagine her sacrifices in ensuring her child is educated. This makes the photo, despite the money garland, extra special not only for the child but for the mother as well.

At the dining table, we ask, "Who is not present?" In our Eucharist, we ask, "Who is not present?" This is what Pope Francis has been telling us about the synodal church. Let us be aware of who is not present in our church and in our Eucharistic celebrations, and let us reach out to them.

Update: The photo of the unidentified woman is actually of the aunt of the teenager who graduated from high school. The money garland, worth P100,000, was a graduation gift. Does this change my point of view on the issue? No. Giving a money garland is not flaunting but cultivating a creative spirit of caring and loving.