P-Noy thanks 'boss' for showing true Christmas spirit

MANILA, Philippines -  Filipinos contributing to the cause of the "tuwid na daan (straight path)" make Christmas more meaningful, President Benigno Aquino III said in his holiday message.

The president thanked the Filipinos for contributing to the culture of honesty and compassion for the fellow countrymen, which was demonstrated through projects like the Sitio Electrification Program which provided electricity to thousands of families living in far-flung areas, and the Conditional Cash Transfer program which provided cash grants to the poorest households.

"Malinaw po: Ang bawat butil ng tagumpay na ating inaani ay nagmula sa ipinunlang pagsusumikap ng sambayanan; Kayo po, ang aming mga Boss, ang gumawa nito. Lahat nang ito’y sumasalamin sa tunay na diwa ng Kapaskuhan: pagbibigayan, pagpapakumbaba, at pagmamahal sa ating kapwa," Aquino said.

The Philippines is known to celebrate the longest Christmas season in the world, beginning from the onset of the "-ber" months in September, until the Feast of the Three Kings on the first Sunday of January. In recent years, however, calamities have struck the country weeks before Christmas day, leaving some Filipinos homeless.

In December 2011, typhoon Sendong triggered massive flashfloods that killed hundreds in Northern Mindanao. A year after, typhoon Pablo, the strongest to hit the country this year, killed more than a thousand people when it struck the same area and other provinces in Visayas.

In solidarity with those affected by the typhoon, various government agencies canceled their respective Christmas parties and donated their funds to the victims of the calamity. The Department of Social Welfare and Development earlier said various Cabinet secretaries would join in the distribution of Noche Buena packs in devastated areas in Compostela Valley.