MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Tuesday, November 19, encouraged government agencies to avoid holding lavish parties this Christmas and to donate the money to storm-ravaged communities instead, Malacañang said on Tuesday, November 19.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a statement early Tuesday morning that this is in “solidarity” with Filipinos still reeling from the devastation caused by a string of tropical cyclones that hit the country since October.
“Alinsunod sa panawagan ng ating Pangulo, hinihikayat namin ang lahat ng ahensya ng pamahalaan na iwasan ang mga marangyang pagdiriwang ngayong Pasko,” Bersamin said.
(Following the call of our President, we are encouraging all government agencies to avoid holding lavish celebrations this Christmas.)
“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.
The latest to hit the Philippines was Super Typhoon Pepito (Man-yi). In October, Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) struck various parts of the country, especially the Bicol Region. It affected over 9.6 million people and left a death toll of 160.
Bersamin said on Tuesday that Malacañang will not issue an official guidance in relation to the President’s call “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,” he 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.
Bersamin said the government will strive to bring Christmas cheer to affected communities “in the form of relief goods and assistance, of infrastructure rebuilt, and of livelihoods restored.”
Following Malacañang’s call, some netizens demanded government officials to truly lead by example.
In the comments section of the Presidential Communications Office post on Bersamin’s statement, some netizens recalled how the British pop band Duran Duran had been flown to Manila for Marcos’ birthday party organized by his friends on September 13. That same night, Tropical Storm Bebinca entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and was given the local name Ferdie.
While Bebinca weakened from a severe tropical storm into a tropical storm before it entered the PAR on September 13 as Ferdie, it still enhanced the southwest monsoon or habagat, causing heavy rain in parts of the country.
The Marcoses are known for holding state-funded lavish parties when the late strongman and namesake of the incumbent president was in power. (READ: [Rappler’s Best] Marcos and his ordinary world) – Rappler.com
