Marcoses lead gift-giving at Palace

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise «Liza» Araneta-Marcos on Sunday distributed Christmas gifts in Malacañang to more than 1,700 children from youth shelters and orphanages.

The event was simultaneously held with 300 satellite centers across the country and benefiting 17,000 children.

«We all know that Christmas is really about the children. And we always have a Merry Christmas when the children have a good Christmas. For us to see all your smiles and greet Merry Christmas are enough to make it meaningful,» Marcos remarked in Filipino.

«But we are just so happy. This is for me — this is really the meaning of the Christmas spirit. To be surrounded by children laughing, running around, having fun — that's what's important,» he added.

The «Balik Sigla, Bigay Saya» gift-giving activity was in partnership between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the private support groups of the President that included Jollibee and San Miguel Corp.

Around 1,120 children in the National Capital Region received the early Christmas gifts, while there were 449 in Cebu 600 in Davao, and over 14,867 children in other satellite centers across the country.

Before wrapping up, the President thanked the guardians and the parents of the children who take care of them.