Tovic Salvador

Malacañang kicks off Christmas festivities on first day of December

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos lead the Christmas gift-giving tradition for children, dubbed "Balik Sigla, Bigay Saya," at the Kalayaan Grounds of Malacañan Palace in Manila on November 26, 2023. NIB handout

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1733048132756GdtDbLsXwAAPtcH.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Malacañang holds its annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on December 1, 2024. Kat Domingo, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Malacañang holds its annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on December 1, 2024. <em>Kat Domingo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA — (<strong>UPDATE</strong>) Malacañang mounted a series of events inside the Palace grounds on Sunday, marking the start of the yuletide season in the Philippines seat of power.</div><p>National artist for music Ryan Cayabyab and National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes participated in the &quot;Puso ng Pasko&quot; performance for some 1,000 Filipino high school students hosted in the Palace lawn before noon.</p><p>The nearly hour-long performance filled the Palace with live singing and dancing to the tune of Filipino Christmas carols.</p><p>By Sunday evening, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in Malacañang.</p><p>&quot;It signals for us the beginning of our Christmas season,&quot; said Dina Tantoco, Deputy Social Secretary.</p><p>&quot;Our theme this year is about hope and resiliency… It’s all about Filipino Christmas tonight… so that’s family, hope, the birth of Jesus,&quot; she said.</p><p>The Palace will also name the winners of the nationwide parol-making competition, Tantoco said.</p><p>From December 16 to 24, the Malacañangbis expected to open its gates to the public for a Simbang Gabi and free carnival rides, she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Malacañang mounted a series of events inside the Palace grounds on Sunday, marking the start of the yuletide season in the Philippines' seat of power.</p>

Malacañang mounted a series of events inside the Palace grounds on Sunday, marking the start of the yuletide season in the Philippines' seat of power.