President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Marie Louise Araneta-Marcos on Sunday distributed early Christmas gifts to over 30,000 children at Malacañang Palace.
This initiative, part of the First Family’s annual gift-giving tradition, was titled “Balik Sigla, Bigay Saya Year 3.”
The event included participation from 17 local government units in Metro Manila and three from the Visayas and Mindanao, coordinated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
A total of 2,199 children attended in person, while 27,899 joined via livestream from various locations.
Each child received a gift set containing items such as a trolley bag, raincoat, and tumbler.
During the festivities, President Marcos engaged with the children through games and entertainment activities.
In his remarks, he emphasized the importance of ensuring that all children feel the joy of Christmas despite recent challenges faced by the nation.
“Every Christmas, we hold an open house because that has been the Marcos family’s tradition. When I was young and we lived here, we always prepared something for the little ones we cared for, and that’s why we are here again,” President Marcos said.
He also expressed gratitude to the DSWD for their efforts in spreading holiday cheer to those in need.
“Christmas is for the children, so we make sure that everyone, no matter how far they come from, can celebrate Christmas with their families and loved ones,” he added.