PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appealed to Filipinos to go beyond festivities and embrace the spirit of giving and compassion as they celebrate Christmas. In his Christmas message Wednesday, Marcos emphasized the importance of spreading hope and sharing the blessings of the season with those in need. “As we enjoy our gatherings, let us also remember those who are in most need of our compassion and generosity-the poor, sick, calamity-stricken, and marginalized,” Marcos said. “Like Jesus who brought salvation to the world, let us share our abundance with the people around us. Let us bring kindness, happiness, and good cheer to everyone we meet, especially to our children for whom these festivities are really for,” he said. He urged the public to become a source of light and goodness this Christmas and in the years to come. “Truly, no other occasion stirs a warmer and more festive spirit in all of us than the Filipino Christmas, which gives us countless moments to appreciate and cherish life’s many blessings,” he said. Malacañang has said Marcos would spend the Christmas holidays working, mainly reviewing the P6.7-trillion budget proposal for 2026 approved by the Bicameral Conference Committee. In his latest vlog released on Tuesday, Marcos reminded Filipinos to be mindful of their health and safety as they celebrate the holidays with their families and friends. He encouraged the public to enjoy holiday food but warned against overindulgence, noting the seasonal rise in health risks. The president also cautioned motorists to be careful while traveling for the holidays and reiterated his call to avoid firecrackers, which have long been linked to injuries during the year-end festivities. In the same light-hearted vlog, the president also shared advice on how to behave when receiving gifts that are not to one’s liking. He reminded Filipinos to value the thought behind every present, while noting that gifts may still be shared with others who could benefit from them. In the vlog, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos joined the president in answering questions from netizens. Asked whether godparents can avoid giving gifts to their godchildren, Marcos said that was not an option for them. In her own Christmas message, Vice President Sara Duterte also urged Filipinos to share God’s blessings with the less fortunate this Christmas season. Duterte said every Christmas, hearts are being filled with blessings brought by the birth of Jesus, but also asked how to make the celebration more meaningful amid challenges. “Fellow citizens, Christmas will be more meaningful if we share God’s blessings with our fellow men, especially those struggling in life, the sick, the orphans and homeless, victims of disasters and violence, and sectors suffering from neglect,” Duterte said. She said that through the goodness of hearts comes hope, resilience and faith that would “guide and strengthen us as individuals, as families, and as a nation.” Duterte urged everyone to pray for the “blessing of peace and stability for our beloved country.” The vice president’s brother, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, stressed that Christmas reminds them of what truly matters — family, faith, and unity, amid a time filled with trials, noise, and criticism. He thanked the people of Davao for their continued trust in him. “This isn’t blind support; it’s support rooted in experience — because you know what genuine, quiet, and results-driven service looks like,” Duterte said. “This Christmas, let us choose hope over hatred, truth over noise, and unity over division. We may not be going through the same things, but we share a common goal: a nation with dignity, compassion, and the courage to stand up for what’s right,” Mayor Duterte said. Speaker Faustino Dy III said that amid the challenges, Filipinos chose to let integrity, respect for law, and gentle action prevail the Christmas season, adding that it is a time for Filipinos to pause as a nation to give thanks, reflect, and rekindle hope. “In every twinkling light and shared smile, let us remember the true spirit of Christmas: love, care for one another, and the belief that everything becomes more meaningful when we are united,” Dy said. He also said that under a “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines), there is a government that has a “clear direction and accountability to the people.” Former speaker Martin Romualdez said Christmas is a celebration that unites everyone as Filipinos — hope, heart, strength, and love for one another. “May the birth of Christ renew our hearts, strengthen our families, and remind us that even in difficult times, light always finds its way through,” Romualdez said.