President Marcos: Serve as lanterns of light to others

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos urged Filipinos to be grateful for blessings and serve as a lantern that brings joy to others.

“May we put into practice the true meaning of Christmas through understanding, caring for and helping others. Through these, we will serve as a lantern that gives cheer, color and light to the lives of everyone toward a more prosperous new Philippines,” he said in a video message.

He also called on Filipinos to bring hope to the needy and display kindness and compassion in their communities.?

“The true meaning of Christmas lies in the recognition of the season as an opportunity to reach out to those who are suffering from solitude, sickness and poverty,” he noted.

Marcos and his family intend to spend Christmas in Manila, according to the Presidential Communications Office.?

The administration opened Malacañang to the public for the traditional nine-day dawn masses as part of the “Tara sa Palasyo” festivities.

Visitors also viewed the giant Christmas tree and lanterns and enjoyed carnival rides for free at the Kalayaan grounds.

Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Filipinos should celebrate their achievements and the blessings that they received this year.?

Speaker Martin Romualdez said he was “filled with gratitude and joy to extend my heartfelt greetings to every Filipino family.”

“Let us embrace the spirit of bayanihan, reaching out to our neighbors, and spreading joy to those in need. In doing so, we light up the lives of others, just as the parols light up our skies,” he added.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo yesterday urged the judiciary to “lead lives of service committed to fairness and empathy” as guardians of peoples’ rights.

“This is the true meaning of Christmas: service, empathy, and sacrifice. As we celebrate this season, may we take this message to heart and allow it to inspire us not just on Christmas day but every day,” Gesmundo said.

He added that Jesus’ birth is a reminder that “change can come from the ordinary” and everyone “can be agents of change” through simple acts of kindness and compassion.

Sen. Bong Go emphasized the importance of maintaining good health and compassion for one another this holiday season.

“Each one of us is part of a bigger family — the Filipino family. We can overcome challenges by being united and helping each other,” he said.

In an interview on Dec. 18, he also reminded Filipinos to stay vigilant in safeguarding their health. — Delon Porcalla, Daphne Galvez