A presidential invite: Come to Palace for carnival thrills

OPEN HOUSE Malacañang has invited the public to partake in the “Tara sa Palasyo” festivities at the Palace grounds, where carnival rides have been set up. On Dec. 19, President Marcos (inset), along with first lady Liza Araneta Marcos, made an unannounced appearance to personally greet visitors. —MALACAÑANG PHOTO

Malacañang’s Kalayaan grounds, often the venue for welcoming heads of states, was filled with children’s laughter for the past week, as President Marcos opened the Palace lawns to the public and even had a carnival set up there.

On Friday, the President invited the public to visit Malacañang, encouraging parents to bring their children to experience Christmas-themed carnival rides and see the colorful lanterns and a giant Christmas tree decorating the Palace.

A week earlier, Malacañang opened its gates to the public for the dawn, or “Simbang Gabi,” Mass service held outside Mabini Hall, the leftmost building in the Palace grounds, right next to St. Jude Parish church. The festivities in Malacañang called “Tara sa Palasyo” are from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. until Dec. 23.

‘Open house’

In a video message also posted on his social media accounts, Mr. Marcos urged the people to take part in the activities and also attend the Simbang Gabi there.

“Merry Christmas to all of you. And again this Christmas we reopen the Palace for all of you. We are having an open house,” he said. “We have a complete set of food like ‘bibingka,’ and of course, my specialty, the ‘puto bumbong,’” he said.

Mr. Marcos said these traditional Filipino treats are offered free in stalls set up at Kalayaan grounds.

Families visiting the Palace on Wednesday night were surprised to see the President, together with first lady Liza Araneta Marcos, as they shook hands with their visitors and had pictures taken with them.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said earlier in a statement that the Christmas activities were “a time-honored tradition initiated by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos and first lady Imelda R. Marcos,” the President’s parents.

But according to the Official Gazette, it was the late President Ramon Magsaysay who was “well-remembered as a friend of the masses [for] having opened Malacañan Palace to the general public.”

The Official Gazette said that on Magsaysay’s second day in office in January 1954, “the common people turned out en masse to attend President and Mrs. Magsaysay’s first ‘at home’ in Malacañang.”

“Men, women and children, many of them barefooted, many others in slippers or in ‘bakya,’ streamed through the Palace gates, milled around the President and shook hands with him, and then walked in and out of the rooms,” the Palace website said, adding that about 80,000 people entered Malacañang, drank 19,200 bottles of soft drinks and ate 10,000 sandwiches.

‘Joy and camaraderie’

The PCO said, “This year promises a jubilant celebration with carnival rides, engaging games, and delectable food, creating an atmosphere of joy and camaraderie.”

Last month, more than 1,000 children were invited to the Palace where they were given gifts and entertained with assorted games.

Malacañang also held the same activities in December last year. “I’m just continuing the tradition that was [started] during my father’s time,” Mr. Marcos said at that time, adding, “I also used to join the games.”

The President and the first lady will spend Christmas in Malacañang, just like last year.

READ: Palace gates again opened for ‘Simbang Gabi’