President Marcos strongly urged government officials and employees to tone down their Christmas celebrations this year to demonstrate solidarity with their fellow Filipinos affected by a recent barrage of powerful typhoons.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin relayed the president’s message, saying there was no need for a formal directive as he trusted public servants to voluntarily embrace austerity.
“Following the President’s call, we urge all government agencies to avoid extravagant Christmas festivities this year,” Bersamin said in a statement.
“This appeal is in solidarity with the millions of Filipinos who continue to grieve the loss of lives, homes, and livelihoods after six typhoons struck the country in less than a month,” he added.
Bersamin encouraged government offices to allocate savings from simplified celebrations to assist typhoon-hit communities.
He also underscored the importance of compassion during the holiday season.
“The true spirit of Christmas calls us to celebrate with compassion, share our blessings, and spread cheer. As a people united by love for one another, we can overcome the darkness brought by these calamities and celebrate this season of joy,” Bersamin said.
He added that the government would ensure affected areas feel the Christmas spirit through relief efforts, infrastructure rebuilding, and livelihood restoration initiatives.
The President earlier said that his administration is focused on helping communities devastated by Typhoons ‘Kristine,’ ‘Leon,’ ‘Marce,’ ‘Nika,’ ‘Ofel,’ and ‘Pepito’ get back on their feet.
He added that relief operations are ongoing, and the government is working to expedite recovery efforts for those impacted by the storms.
As this developed, the state weather bureau announced that the ‘Amihan’ or northeast monsoon season has begun, signaling chilly nights as Christmas draws closer.
“Brrr, brrr! The looooong wait is over—it’s finally here! The Amihan season has arrived!” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) whimsically said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
PAGASA explained that the onset of the cold season is triggered by “meteorological patterns” after noting that “the high-pressure area over Siberia has strengthened, leading to a strong surge of northeasterly winds.”
‘Amihan’ brings with it strong northeasterly winds, cooler temperatures, and dry air across the country, with periodic surges expected in the coming months, it was further explained.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Marcos urges solemn Christmas celebrations in solidarity with typhoon victims.”
