‘Every Filipino deserves Christmas’ – Marcos

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. —Screengrab from Presidential Communications Office Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — “Every Filipino deserves Christmas,” said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday as he called on the nation to remember the victims of recent typhoons and other disasters this Christmas.

In a speech during the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Malacañang Grounds, Marcos reminded the public that Christmas is a time of joy for all Filipinos and an opportunity to extend compassion to those in need.

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“But as we celebrate, [what] I would like is to ask you to hold a thought for all those people who up to now are trying to recover from the effects of the six typhoons that we suffered in 23 days. Many of them are still in shelters. Many of them are still in need,” Marcos expressed.

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He also mentioned the victims of the recent fire in Tondo, Manila, which left 2,000 people homeless, urging Filipinos to continue the tradition of helping one another in this season of giving.

“All of these people, let’s just keep them in mind and do what Filipinos do. Let’s help each other. And my Christmas wish is that despite everything, every Filipino should feel somehow Christmas,” Marcos added.

The president likewise underscored that despite the hardships, the Christmas spirit remains “unshakable in the hearts of Filipinos.”