Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
More than 17,000 children from select shelters and orphanages across the country received gifts from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañan Palace on Sunday ahead of Christmas.
The nationwide gift-giving event dubbed “Balik Sigla, Bigay Saya” was initiated by the Office of the President through the Social Secretary’s Office.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), along with several private partners including Jollibee and San Miguel Corp., organized the simultaneous event in over 250 locations nationwide.
Among the largest participating centers were the Cebu Technological University with 449 children and the University of Mindanao, Matina Campus in Davao del Sur with 600 children.
The gift-giving at the Palace was held at the Kalayaan grounds where the President and First Lady Liza
Araneta-Marcos welcomed more than 1,700 children from select shelters and orphan care centers on Sunday.
“Welcome to Malacañan Palace! Welcome to our Christmas celebration! Merry Christmas, mga anak (children),” President Marcos told the children and their guardians shortly before distributing bags of Christmas gifts along with the First Lady.
There were 1,120 children in the National Capital Region (NCR) who received their early Christmas gifts; 449 in Cebu; 600 in Davao; and, over 14,867 children in other satellite centers across the country.
In his speech, President Marcos recalled fond Christmas memories during his childhood.
“We all know that Christmas is really about the children. And we always have a Merry Christmas when the children have a good Christmas,” he said.
On Saturday, the President enjoined Filipinos to take time to reflect and connect with families and loved ones during the Christmas season.
Mr. Marcos made the call, as he led the traditional Christmas tree lighting ceremony and the awarding of the winners of the “Isang Bituin, Isang Mithiin” (One Star, One Goal) nationwide parol (lantern)-making contest at Malacañan Palace in Manila.
“We have gained a reputation around the world for celebrating Christmas with more fervor than most other countries, and I think that that is a good thing because I think we, all of us Filipinos, take Christmas as a time for reflection and a time to spend with your friends, your family, your loved ones,” he said.
The switch-on ceremony was supposed to start at around 5:30 p.m. but the rain delayed the celebration.
“Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate with us. But we’re Filipinos and we do not let the little rain dampen our Christmas spirit,” Mr. Marcos said.
The President said children should particularly enjoy the Christmas celebrations.
“As far as I’m concerned, Christmas is really for the children. And as we watch the children, it brings us the innocence that they bring to these festivities. Really, the expression I’m tempted to use is it blows out the cobwebs in your brain and your heart and gives you a fresh start for the next year,” he said.
— Vince Lopez
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Credit belongs to: www.manilastandard.net
