As the holiday season approaches, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday led the annual gift-giving program at Malacañang to bring joy to Filipino children.
The program dubbed Balik Sigla, Bigay Saya Nationwide Gift Giving Day, which was simultaneously held in other areas across the country, aims to provide gifts to 30,000 children aged 4 to 12.
The gift set includes a trolley bag, pillow, socks, raincoat, tumbler, watch, and face and hand towel.
Marcos, along with First Lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos and their sons Simon and Vincent, personally handed out the gift bags to some children present in the Palace.
“Alam naman natin na ang Pasko, ang katunayan niyan, ay talaga para sa mga bata. Kaya’t alam ko, naramdaman ko na kaagad ang Pasko dahil andito na naman ang maiingay, malilikot, at makukulit na mga bata na kumakanta ng malakas na Christmas carol,” the President said in his speech.
(Christmas is indeed for the children. I know and I’ve felt the Christmas because the children are here again singing Christmas carols.)
“Welcome back sa Malacañang. Alam niyo naman na basta’t Pasko, ito’y ino-open house namin dahil ganyan talaga ang naging tradisyon sa pamilya namin, pamilya Marcos. Nu’ng bata pa ako at dito pa kami nakatira, basta’t Pasko, merong handa para sa ating maliliit na inaalagaan,” he added.
(Welcome back to Malacañang. Since it’s Christmas, we hold an open house because that’s the tradition in our family. When I was young and still lived here, as long as it was Christmas, we prepared something for the children.)
The gift-giving program was done in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), various local government units in Metro Manila, and orphanages supported by the “Tulong sa Palasyo” initiative. —KG, GMA Integrated News
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