Marcos to gov’t agencies: Keep Christmas parties simple

Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on government agencies to keep their Christmas and year-end parties modest but meaningful.

In a Palace briefing, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the president issued the reminder following a string of natural calamities that recently struck different parts of the country.

Castro said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman shares the same directive.

“Ilang araw bago mag-Pasko, pinaalalahanan ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. at ng Department of Budget and Management sa pangunguna ni Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, ang lahat ng ahensya ng pamahalaan na gawing simple at makabuluhan ang Christmas at year-end celebrations,” Castro said.

[Translation: Days before Christmas, President Marcos Jr. and the Department of Budget and Management led by Secretary Amenah Pangandaman are reminding all government agencies to make their Christmas and year-end celebrations simple and meaningful.]

She said this call is aligned with the administration’s push for solidarity with Filipinos still dealing with the aftermath of earthquakes in the Visayas and Mindanao, as well as typhoons that hit parts of the country in recent weeks.

“Paalala sa mga kawani ng gobyerno, mahalaga ang pagdiriwang ng Pasko na may pag-aalala sa kapwa nating patuloy na bumabangon at nagsisimulang muli mula sa maraming kalamidad na tumama sa bansa,” Castro added.

[Translation: This is a reminder to government workers that celebrating Christmas should come with compassion for those still recovering and starting over after the disasters that hit the country.]

Last year, Marcos also advised government officials and employees to avoid extravagant holiday festivities in consideration of the thousands of Filipinos affected by consecutive typhoons.