Politicking the 13th Month Pay in the Philippines

Back in March, when the COVID-19 pandemic was only beginning to signal a change in the “normal” life of Filipinos, Senator Bong Go came out to the press recommending that the private sector give out their 13th month pay early, even if prorated. While 13th month pay usually comes out in December, the pandemic has led to widespread underemployment and unemployment, to which these affected employees are still entitled to a 13th month pay. A day later, President Duterte echoed Senator Go’s statements, saying, “Iyong sanang mga malalaking enterprises dito (I hope the big enterprises here), maybe you can consider paying the 13th month pay or just paying them maski kalahati sa sweldo nila kung walang trabaho (even half of their salary if they have no work) as a way of showing your solidarity with the Filipino at this critical time”.

.

The concept of the 13th month pay, while now practiced (even put into law) in Latin America and Europe, originated in the Philippines in circumstances that make it appropriate for one to claim that there is something distinctly Filipino about the 13th month pay. In December of 1975, the Marcos regime had failed to raise the minimum wage for five years; President Marcos, seeing the Christmas season coming up, put out Presidential Decree 851, mandating that any employer give out a “bonus” pay on or before December 24th equivalent to one-twelfth of the employee’s yearly salary–hence, the “13th month pay”.  

.

In a country where the government culture is open to welfare as a concept, the 13th month pay has been a welcome addition to the arsenal of political tools used by anyone regardless of party affiliation. Legislators, in discussing matters of welfare, now no longer have to rely on only scientific or economic knowledge, but on important traditions such as Christmas. For example, Senator Vicente Sotto III presented Bill 1645 back in 2013, which would present a “14th month pay” and introduce another mandatory salary, this time meant to be in the middle of the year, where parents tend to spend money for the start of the upcoming school year. Similarly to the formation of the 13th month pay, this bill was brought about because the newly-passed minimum wage of 10 PHP per day ($0.21) was deemed to be unsatisfactory for many. Unlike the 13th month pay, however, this measure does not contain the context of Christmas that teeters precariously between the sacred and the profane. This was likely something Sen. Sotto might have failed to take into account, considering that the bill ended up coming way short of passing.

.

Through harnessing the power of tradition in the form of Christmas, this postcolonial government actively takes part in the conjuring of the Philippine state. In a way, the state begins to “own” Christmas by tying it to welfare programs. But we must not be carried away: as much as politicians use tradition to their advantage, they can be beholden to it as well. The news just came out today of senators having to deny pleas from “distressed employers” asking for a pass on the 13th month pay. We have seen examples of appropriation being a hallmark of modernity-building in class (particularly in the Museum section of “Census, Map, Museum”), but it turns out that the relationship between government and history/culture can manifest in different ways. This top-down reinforcement of popular tradition could be a powerful tool as we take a further look into the workings of a modern Southeast Asian state. 

.
Photo: Paolo Romero, The Philippine Star