MANILA -- The nation has been blessed despite the present challenges, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said as he led the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in Malacañan Palace Saturday. 

“I always have believed that Christmas is really for the children and so we have made, done everything that we can to make sure that every child, every Filipino child has a Christmas,” the President said during the event at the Palace’s Kalayaan Grounds.

“And that is something that I think is a good goal for us this Christmas, since we have been blessed, all of us, despite all of the challenges we have faced, here we are, we have all been blessed,” the chief executive pointed out.

With Saturday’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, the official Christmas season has begun in the country, although for Filipinos it usually begins in September. 

“But anyway, it is now official. And I thank you, all of you, for coming to join us for what can only be a very joyful night for everyone,” he said.

The President expressed elation over the Christmas Tree Lighting event, saying it brought a different feeling after a few years of restriction as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

For three years, Filipinos haven’t celebrated the typical Christmas that they used to enjoy because of COVID-19, the President noted.

“Dahil iba talaga ang pagdiriwang ng Pasko pag nasa Pilipinas ka. Wala ka nang makikita na kahit saan sa buong mundo na mas masaya na tao kapag nagka-Pasko at lalong lalo na para sa mga bata,” the President said. (PND)