By Brian Campued
Malacañang on Monday issued a statement urging government offices to avoid holding grand Christmas celebrations to show solidarity with the victims of consecutive typhoons that recently ravaged the country.
Instead, government agencies are encouraged to donate their savings from scaled-down celebrations to calamity-hit communities.
“The true spirit of Christmas implores us to celebrate with compassion, to share our blessings, and to spread cheer. As a people united by love for our fellow men, we can cast away bleakness as we celebrate in this season of joy,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said.
An official guidance in writing, according to Bersamin, is no longer needed “because we believe in the kindness of our fellow government workers, whom we fully trust can unilaterally adopt austerity in their celebrations.”
The Palace official assured the public that the spirit of Christmas will be felt early as the government continues to provide various forms of assistance and rebuilding efforts.
“Tuloy pa rin ang pagdiriwang ng Pasko, kasama ang ating mga kababayang nasalanta ng mga sunod-sunod na kalamidad,” Bersamin said.
In less than a month, six tropical cyclones battered the country, namely Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito.
In a media interview Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to embody the Christmas spirit by helping those affected by the calamities.
“Sana naman pagkadating ng Pasko, tayong mga Pilipino, alalahanin natin ang ating mga kababayan na nasalanta,” the President said.
“At kahit papaano sana ’yung ating (mga relief goods) gawing Pamasko, ipamahagi na lang natin sa kanila. Kawawa naman at sila’y naghihirap,” he added.
—iro