"Dawat Dawat" in the office
By jureathome
@jureathome (5361)
Philippines
April 29, 2012 6:57am CST
Hi Filipino Lotters, have you joined a "dawat-dawat" game before?
"Dawat" is cebuano for "receive". It's not really a game, but it's a fun way of saving money with a group of people. I'm not sure if this is done in other parts of the country, but its quite popular here in Cebu.
I remembered joining this a few times before, at school and in the office. Each member contributes a certain agreed amount, each month or week. Members would draw lots at the start of the cycle and that will be the order of who will receive the collected amount, per round. The members have to really commit that they will continue to contribute until, everyone gets to receive their share.
In a way, you're like saving money, especially if you are among the last members to receive the pot. But, sometimes, a few members would stop contributing. If that happens, they have to find someone to replace them, otherwise, it'd be unfair for those who haven't received their share yet. So, it's important to properly choose the participants of this group.
Have you tried that?
7 responses
@yahnee (1243)
• Philippines
29 Apr 12
There are some unfortunate experiences with this dawat-dawat or paluwagan in offices. More often it becomes a problem when one of the members decide to resign or go AWOL. Also, they often find difficultly in collecting the amount from the members who have already received their share ahead of the others. Being no 1 or no 2 becomes an advantage in certain cases. Often the misunderstandings reach the HR Department and we have to do the mediation in behalf of those who have not received their money. While this is certainly a very good way of saving money, be sure to choose only those that can be depended on, sometimes, when it comes to money, some people cannot be trusted.
In the Ilocana dialect "dawat means" pahingi or ask for something without any payment.
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
29 Apr 12
Oh, that really does happen. How come HR is involved, when this is not business-related?
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
29 Apr 12
Right, but still you can't be too sure. A close friend of mine even unexpectedly ditched us. I was really disappointed and never saw it coming.
Anything can happen, and if you lose a member, just have to get someone to replace and resume the game.
@gaiza12 (4884)
• Philippines
29 Apr 12
We are doing it right now here in our office. Those included in the "Dawat-dawat" are already working here as regulars, that way we can be sure that we will surely be paying for the promised amount to be paid. Half of the group has already received their pot, unfortunately, I still haven't been picked. I am hoping I will be picked next because I really need the money 
..really wanted to buy something.
..really wanted to buy something. @jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
29 Apr 12
You mean, you don't know yet when you're due to receive your share?
Usually, the order is decided at the start, right?
@gaiza12 (4884)
• Philippines
29 Apr 12
We draw lots to know who's gonna get the pot for a specific week. We don't draw it from the start to minimize exchanging with receiving the pot for other really wish to be the last one to receive it while others what it earlier because they need the money. It's better we don't know yet for now so we will be excited with the lots are drawn.
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
29 Apr 12
Right. That's also a good way to play it.
There are really no set standards for this. I even wonder where this started. I thought it was just common here in cebu. So, its also done in other cities. There must be an origin to this.
@stanley777 (9401)
• Philippines
30 Apr 12
Yes, it's a good way of helping each other where members pooled an equal amount every week the total of which where given to different member each week. The Tagalog word for it is "paluwagan" .I guess this is practiced mostly in offices, factories and any other companies with many employees. Giving a chance to those earners who can't save money in a short time.
@bluespygirl (2112)
• Philippines
29 Apr 12
Hello. We call it "paluwagan" in tagalog, right? I had tried it way back in school and in our neighborhood. I would like to be second or thrird to the last to receive. :)
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
29 Apr 12
Yeah, it's better to be at that position, than to be the first, unless you really need the money. If i get #1 or #2, I'd swap with someone.
@esor50 (115)
•
30 Apr 12
so,in cebuano,its dawat-dawat,in tagalog it is paluwagan,here in ilocos it is called AMONG.it is very important that the members are responsible people when it comes to paying.as you have said ,it is unfair for those who haven't received yet their hard earned money.i have joined it already,and so far,all the members pay their obligation on time.i didn't join the draw lots because i chose the last number.i guess it also helps a lot..what have i done with my share? i bought all the necessary things my 3 children needed in school because i received it last week of May last year.
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
30 Apr 12
Oh, you're wise. And, it's very timely to receive your share befor school starts. Good thing, noone complained about you fixing your slot.
@craptacularxd (84)
• Philippines
30 Apr 12
I see. It is familiar. We called them here "Paluwagan" it has the same mechanic as stated above. Tried that for most of a while but ending at trolling because members won't contribute at the agreed amount.
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
30 Apr 12
That's sad. It's really important to find good paying members at the very start.
@laniekins (4579)
• Philippines
30 Apr 12
If I'm not mistaken, in tagalog it's "Paluwagan", yeah, I've tried that many times. It started when I was in Elementary, the moment I got my money, I am happy to buy a big cone of dirty ice cream, my mother gave me (1) peso to spend at recess. It goes on until I reach High School. In College, I don't remember we did that, a few years ago, my good friend ask me to complete their list of "Paluwagan" players. It was a bit larger money, good enough to buy a clothes and food but I forgot how did I spend it. I think I was the last to make "sahod".
