BELIEVING that Christmas is for children, business conglomerate San Miguel Corporation recently supported a nation-wide gift-giving project led by Malacanang.

The project allowed President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to welcome over 1,700 children to the Palace.

Dubbed “Balik Sigla, Bigay Saya” gift-giving day, the occasion was simultaneously held in 300 satellite centers to benefit over 17,000 children across the country.

“Welcome to Malacañan Palace! Welcome to our Christmas celebration! Merry Christmas, mga anak,” President Marcos told the children and their guardians shortly before distributing bags of Christmas gifts along with the First Lady.

The activity – held in over 250 locations nationwide was made possible through the partnership between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the private support groups of President Marcos that included Jollibee and SMC.

There are 1,120 children in the National Capital Region (NCR) who received their early Christmas gifts; 449 in Cebu; 600 in Davao; and, over 14,867 children in other satellite centers in different parts of the archipelago.

In his speech, President Marcos could not help but recall his fondest Christmas memories during his childhood.

“Alam niyo noong kasing tanda ko lang kayo, maliit din ako noon, ‘yung tatay ko siya ang presidente rito. Kaya bawat Pasko ganito ang aming ginagawa dito,” President Marcos told the children.

“Ngayon lamang ay siyempre high-tech na tayo, hindi lang dito sa Palasyo nagkakaroon ng Maligayang Pasko at Gift-Giving lahat ng ating gagawin ngayon, kundi sa iba’t ibang lugar sa Pilipinas para naman ay lahat ng ating mga kabataan ay makaramdam ng Pasko,” he added.

“At alam naman natin – we all know that Christmas is really about the children. And we always have a Merry Christmas when the children have a good Christmas. Na makita natin ang inyong mga ngiti, na kayo naman ay ‘pag sinabing Merry Christmas ay may kabuluhan.”

Marcos thanked the guardians and the parents of the children. He said children are the most loved sector as they are the future of the nation.

True indeed.

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