Manila residents will start receiving their Christmas gifts on the first day of December, as the country’s capital city kicks off its annual “12 Days of Christmas” on Sunday.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said they will give away 650,000 boxes of noche buena food items to poor households until Dec. 12.
“On the first day December, we will be starting our 12 Days of Christmas as a gift to families in Manila. We will go around the six districts in the city to personally hand out our Christmas boxes so they will have something to share among themselves on Christmas Eve,” she announced during the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree at Kartilya ng Katipunan grounds near the city hall Friday night.
The lighting ceremony included decorative lights and lanterns in several locations, like the Pasig River Esplanade, Rizal Park, Intramuros, National Museum, Metropolitan Theater and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
The 12 Days of Christmas will be followed by two more days of giving away 176,000 Christmas boxes to senior citizens on Dec. 13 and 14.
At the same time, Lacuna appealed for compassion and help for victims of fires and calamities.
“There is a donations drop-off center at the Kartilya ng Katipunan where charitable individuals, families, groups, companies, and institutions can share relief goods and gifts for calamity victims. Donations are accepted there Mondays to Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” the mayor added.
