A VIDEO of Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan dancing as bills of various denominations rained down on her has made the rounds online, sparking ridicule and plenty of commentary. In the clip, the governor sways to lively music while people throw pesos into the air, mostly ₱20s and ₱50 bills, giving the impression of excess at a time when many Filipinos, particularly in Samar, continue to face economic hardship.
It is no surprise that the video drew harsh reactions. To outsiders unfamiliar with the setting, the image of a public official dancing under a shower of cash can look like a display of power and wealth, tone-deaf to the struggles of ordinary people. Because social media thrives on quick judgments, the optics were, admittedly, unfortunate.
Governor Tan’s office, however, was quick to explain that the event was not a government function but part of the Catbalogan City Fiesta’s Hermano Night. The dance she performed was the Kuratsa, a traditional Waray-Waray folk dance often performed at weddings ad fiestas.
According to her camp, the “money shower” was not personal enrichment or indulgence but a fundraising tradition, with all proceeds going to St. Bartholomew Parish Church and neighboring chapels.
Locals themselves rushed to defend the practice. To many Waray-Waray, the so-called curacha is not scandalous but a beloved custom. Families and community leaders alike have long danced it during fiestas, with guests pinning or showering money on the performers. The money is then pooled to support the church or community causes. In short, what looks extravagant to the uninitiated is, in Samar, a blend of culture and celebration.
This incident shows the friction between local tradition and national perception in the age of viral media. A custom deeply rooted in Eastern Visayas can be misread by outsiders (myself included) as ostentatious, especially when a politician is the one on the dance floor. That is the double bind faced by public officials, who are expected to honor their heritage yet must also remain mindful of optics in a hypercritical digital space.
Perhaps the lesson here is twofold. For leaders, transparency and sensitivity are vital; cultural practices should be explained proactively, lest they be misinterpreted. For the public, a bit of cultural humility is in order. Not every viral clip tells the full story. In Samar, the money dance is not a spectacle of excess but a celebration of generosity and faith.
