Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Christmas Tree Lighting

And once again, welcome to our Christmas Tree Lighting Program. And what can I say? Of course, we have to thank Alice – our still, the Prima Donna of Philippine Dance, Alice Reyes. Thank you very much for always. [applause]

And the Alice Reyes Dance. You always bring smiles to our faces. And the Manila Symphony, of course, playing as perfectly as ever. May kontribusyon pa tayo sa ating Air Force na banda. [applause]

Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.

What a joy it is to be reminded that we are now in the Christmas season.

At no matter, no matter how heavy the loads that we feel sometimes in the work that we do… Hindi ako ‘yan ha. Iyong mga Cabinet secretary may mga sila ganyan. Ako wala akong nararamdaman na ganoon. I don’t know what they’re talking about when they tell me about it.

But, you know, for all of us who… Well, everyone has challenges that they have to go through.

But every time we start to hear the Christmas carols on the radio, every time we start to see the decorations go up, and again, like I’ve always said, we are the only country that puts up Christmas decorations starting in September.

And people cannot understand why that is. But that is because we are Pinoys and Pinoys have a – Christmas is very – has a special meaning to Filipinos.

And that’s why we celebrate it really very, very, very seriously and really take the time out to once again be with family, once again be with loved ones.

And we’re – there’s an added dimension to that is that because we have millions of Filipinos who are working and living abroad. And Christmas is often the only time that they can come back and be with their families.

Kaya naman pagka dumating na ang Disyembre, ayan na lahat ng binyag na hinintay nila ng anim na buwan, lahat ng kasal, lahat ng reunion, sabay-sabay na ‘yan pagdating ng Pasko.

And that is why it means something special to us Filipinos. It always has but it continues to mean even more. And what does it mean? It means that once again we examine our lives I suppose and see, look back and see what has happened.

But at the same time, it is a time to maybe put down what we are carrying and spend more time. Because we always, those of us who – especially those of us who are very busy, we sometimes neglect our family.

We sometimes neglect those that we love.

This is the time for us to take that time and said it’s perfectly all right that you know take a little time off and spend some good time with your friends, with your family.

And that is why when we feel the spirit of Christmas in the air again, we immediately are – we immediately take flight and remember what is nice, what is good, what is happy, what is joyous in Christmas.

And, of course, that always includes family and, of course, the kids. Christmas is for children.

But you know, children of all ages though, because whatever age you are, you can still enjoy Christmas as well as any child.

And that is what we should be doing so that we come back refreshed. We come back with new ideas, we come back with new blood, we come back with something that will contribute to what we are doing.

And that will come from just spending good time with our loved ones and to remember that this is –this is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, and to once again dedicate ourselves and our lives to that service.

Happy Christmas everybody and a Happy New Year! [applause]

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