MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos on Saturday said his goal is to make sure that every Filipino child will have a Christmas, adding that Christmas is for the children.
“I have always believed that Christmas is really for the children, so we have done everything that we can to make sure that every Filipino child has a Christmas,” the President said in a brief speech during the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañang.
“That is something that I think is a good goal for us in this Christmas, since we have been blessed, all of us, despite all of the challenges we have faced, here we are, we have been blessed,” he added.
Aside from the Christmas tree lighting, the winners of a parol (Christmas lantern) making contest were also announced at the event. All the provincial governments in the country joined the contest.
The local government of South Cotabato won the parol making contest and bagging the P500,000 grand prize.
All of the parols were hung at the Christmas tree, which was then lit. A fireworks display followed the Christmas tree lighting.
Vice President Sara Duterte, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez were among those who attended the Christmas tree lighting.
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