Marcos tells govt agencies: Avoid lavish Yule parties
(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday called on all government agencies to avoid lavish Christmas celebrations this year in solidarity with victims of the recent tropical cyclones. In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said this was in line with the President's call to exemplify the spirit of Christmas by helping those affected by the calamities. "This call is in solidarity with the millions of our countrymen who continue to grieve over lives, homes and livelihoods lost during the six typhoons that pummeled us in a span of less than a month," he added. Bersamin said that an official guidance in writing was no longer needed "because we believe in the kindness of our fellow government workers, whom we fully trust can unilaterally adopt austerity in their celebrations." "We urge them as well that whatever savings they realize from scaled-down celebrations be donated to our calamity-hit communities," the Palace official said. "The true spirit of Christmas implores us to celebrate with compassion, to share our blessings, and to spread cheer. As a people united by love for our fellow men, we can cast away bleakness as we celebrate in this season of joy," he added. On the part of the government, Bersamin assured the public that the Christmas spirit "will be felt early by all the affected areas in the form of relief goods and assistance, of infrastructure rebuilt, and of livelihoods restored." The Presidential Communications Office said the government is one with the Filipino people in remembering the suffering of those who were hit by the typhoons Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel and Pepito. President Marcos said the government is now working double time to start rebuilding calamity-hit communities while relief operations continue, it added. The president is scheduled to visit Catanduanes on Tuesday morning to assess the situation and provide assistance to the typhoon-affected families. The House of Representatives said it would heed the president's call to abstain from holding grand Christmas parties in deference to the victims of the storms that pummeled the country. In a press conference on Tuesday, House Deputy Secretary-General Sofonias Gabonada said that instead of holding a House of Representatives Month celebration on Nov. 30, they canceled it, and the funds that would be used for the event be redirected towards relief efforts.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday called on all government agencies to avoid lavish Christmas celebrations this year in solidarity with victims of the recent tropical cyclones.
In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said this was in line with the President's call to exemplify the spirit of Christmas by helping those affected by the calamities.
"This call is in solidarity with the millions of our countrymen who continue to grieve over lives, homes and livelihoods lost during the six typhoons that pummeled us in a span of less than a month," he added.
Bersamin said that an official guidance in writing was no longer needed "because we believe in the kindness of our fellow government workers, whom we fully trust can unilaterally adopt austerity in their celebrations."
"We urge them as well that whatever savings they realize from scaled-down celebrations be donated to our calamity-hit communities," the Palace official said.
"The true spirit of Christmas implores us to celebrate with compassion, to share our blessings, and to spread cheer. As a people united by love for our fellow men, we can cast away bleakness as we celebrate in this season of joy," he added.
On the part of the government, Bersamin assured the public that the Christmas spirit "will be felt early by all the affected areas in the form of relief goods and assistance, of infrastructure rebuilt, and of livelihoods restored."
The Presidential Communications Office said the government is one with the Filipino people in remembering the suffering of those who were hit by the typhoons Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel and Pepito.
President Marcos said the government is now working double time to start rebuilding calamity-hit communities while relief operations continue, it added.
The president is scheduled to visit Catanduanes on Tuesday morning to assess the situation and provide assistance to the typhoon-affected families.
The House of Representatives said it would heed the president's call to abstain from holding grand Christmas parties in deference to the victims of the storms that pummeled the country.
In a press conference on Tuesday, House Deputy Secretary-General Sofonias Gabonada said that instead of holding a House of Representatives Month celebration on Nov. 30, they canceled it, and the funds that would be used for the event be redirected towards relief efforts.
