Duterte, Robredo tell Filipinos to keep hope alive this Christmas

President Duterte—MALACAÑANG PHOTO; Leni Robredo—GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

President Duterte on Friday wished Filipinos hope and courage during this Christmas season as the Philippine situation improves nearly two years since the pandemic struck.

In a short video message, Mr. Duterte greeted Filipino Christians a Merry Christmas.

“May the light that this season brings fill us with hope and courage as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr. Duterte said.

He also called on Filipinos to share their blessings with others.

Presidential aspirant and Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday also appealed to Filipinos to bring hope to their countrymen who continue to suffer this year.

In her Christmas message, Robredo noted that this year’s celebrations are once again marred by similar challenges from 2020: many are “just now attempting to start over after the challenges brought by the pandemic, [while] this past week saw more hardship in the devastation brought by [Typhoon] ‘Odette’ (international name: Rai).” “So this Christmas, as a nation coming together, let us fervently give thanks for any blessings we receive. Let us hug those we love more tightly, in the same way we hold on tightly to hope: Hope we bring to our fellow human beings every time we show our love for them, and the hope they bring us every time we accept their love,” she said.

Compassion

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, for his part, on Friday enjoined the Filipino people to become instruments of compassion and benevolence amid the difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the typhoon.

“May those of us who are fortunate enough to be with our loved ones spare more than a thought for those who are alone, lost and abandoned,” Gesmundo said in his Christmas message.