Christmas Countdown: Christmas Bonus

There are 11 days remaining before Christmas and probably many Filipino workers have already received their Christmas bonus. Christmas bonus refers to the cash gift given by the employer as a token of gratitude and appreciation for the service rendered by the workers during the entire year.

The Christmas bonus also gives the recipients more leeway to extend the generosity shown upon them, since they have bigger chances of buying gifts for family and friends. Other Christmas-related expenses can also be covered by the Christmas bonus.

One famous popular culture reference of the Christmas bonus is the eponymous song performed by the music group Aegis. Following are the lyrics of the song:

Intro:
La la la la la...
Sa tuwing darating ang kapaskuhan
Ang Christmas bonus, ating inaasahan
Sa mga kumpanyang pinagta-trabahuan
Tunay natin itong kailangan

Chorus I
Kaya't ibigay n'yo na
Ang aming Christmas bonus
Pati na ang 13th month pay
Para lahat okey na okey

Kay sarap makatanggap ng Christmas bonus
Para bang problema mo'y na-hocus-pocus
Pambili ng regalo, panghanda sa lahat ng gastos
Halos solve ng lahat kung may Christmas bonus

Chorus II
Kaya't ibigay n'yo na
Ang aming Christmas bonus
Nang maging maligaya tayong lahat
Sa araw ng Pasko

[Repeat Chorus I]
[Repeat 1st Stanza]
[Repeat Chorus I and Chorus II]

Chorus III
Kaya't ibigay n'yo na
Ang aming Christmas bonus
Nang maging masagana
Ang pagsalubong sa Bagong Taon

[Repeat Chorus III]


TRANSLATION

Intro:
La la la la la...
Whenever the Christmas season comes
The Christmas bonus, is something we look forward for
In the companies where we work for
We need this indeed

Chorus I
So please, give it now
Our Christmas bonus
Include the 13th month pay
So that everything will be okay

It feels very nice to receive the Christmas bonus
As if your worries were magically disappeared
Money to buy gifts, cash for all the expenses
Almost every problem is solved if there is Christmas bonus

Chorus II
So please, give it now
Our Christmas bonus
And everybody will be happy
On Christmas Day

[Repeat Chorus I]
[Repeat 1st Stanza]
[Repeat Chorus I and Chorus II]

Chorus III
So please, give it now
Our Christmas bonus
And prosperity will be received
As we anticipate the New Year

[Repeat Chorus III]

For sing-along purposes, here is a YouTube link of the song posted by redfox0185.