Marcos to officials: Prioritize public interest

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos reminded public officials to always prioritize public interest, as he led the traditional Christmas gift giving at Malacañang yesterday.

Marcos, who was joined by First Lady Liza Marcos and son Vincent, treated thousands of children to games, food and entertainment at the annual “Balik Sigla, Bigay Saya 2025 Nationwide Gift-Giving” held at the Kalayaan Grounds.

“Those of us who work in government, when we see you, we remember that we work, not for ourselves, but for you,” the President told the children and other guests in Filipino.

He stressed the biggest treasures of  the country are “our children, the future of our country.”

In his message, Marcos said having the children around brings cheer to the Palace and provides strength to surpass the challenges faced by the nation.

“We are grateful that even if we face difficult challenges, at least we have a little time, especially at Christmas, when we need to remember our good fortune in life, our blessings in the past year,” he said.

The Balik Sigla, Bigay Saya Nationwide Gift-Giving was initiated by the Office of the President in 2022 to create meaningful Christmas experiences for Filipino children.

Department of Social Welfare and Development Sec. Rex Gatchalian was present at Malacañang’s Kalayaan grounds, which transformed into an amusement park with inflatables, games, circus acts, activity booths and food stalls for 3,000 children, including those under the care of DSWD centers and nearby barangays.

Simultaneous gift-giving activities were conducted in 56 DSWD centers and 100 Department of Education (DepEd) schools nationwide for 19,000 children.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara joined the program, noting that the regional and division offices supervised on-ground activities in schools, including gift distribution and community engagement.

Each school accommodated around 140 learners for a morning of performances, games and Christmas gatherings prepared in coordination with DepEd field offices.

“Every Filipino child has the right to feel the spirit of Christmas and the hope it brings, so while our programs such as feeding, tutorials and providing connectivity to the most remote schools continue, it is also important to let them know that there is a government that cares and is ready to support them. Today’s simple offering is a reminder that they are not alone in their journey of learning,” Angara said. — Bella Cariaso, Jose Rodel Clapano