NANAWAGAN si Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa mga Filipino na maglaan ng oras para magnilay-nilay at kumonekta sa pamilya at mahal sa buhay ngayong panahon ng Pasko.

“We have gained the reputation around the world for celebrating Christmas with more fervor than most other countries, and I think that that is a good thing because I think we, all of us Filipinos, take Christmas as a time for reflection and a time to spend with your friends, your family, your loved ones,” ayon sa Chief Executive.

“And I suppose what is left now is for me to wish you all a very merry Christmas,” dagdag na wika nito.

Dahil sa ulan, bahagyang naantala ang switch-on ceremony. Ito sana ay magsisimula ng 5:30 ng hapon, araw ng Sabado subalit dahil nga sa ulan ay bahagya itong naantala.

“Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate with us. But we’re Filipinos and we do not let the little rain dampen our Christmas spirit,” ayon sa Pangulo.

Aniya pa, dapat na i-enjoy ng mga bata ang pagdiriwang ng Pasko.

“As far as I’m concerned, Christmas is really for the children. And as we watch the children, it brings us the innocence that they bring to these festivities. Really, the expression I’m tempted to use is it blows out the cobwebs in your brain and in your heart and gives you a fresh start for the next year,”  ayon sa Pangulo.

Sa kabilang dako, nakiisa naman sa nasabing event sina Filipino music icon Jose Mari Chan, singer-actress Rita Daniela, Coro de San Jacinto atCagayan State University Chorale na hinarana si Pangulong Marcos at ang First Family,  mga miyembro ng gabinete at iba pang bisita.

Samantala, ang Batangas State University ang nakasungkit ng first place sa  parol-making  contest, sinundan naman ito ng  University of Northern Philippines of Vigan, Ilocos Sur at Bohol Island State University ng Bohol province.

Nakatanggap naman ang nanalong  state universities ng mga larawan at video editing package, kabilang na ang camera, gimbal, laptop, at editing software.

Ang mga nanalong estudyante ay nakatanggap ng cash prizes na P1 million, P500,000 at P250,000, laptop showcase at  mobile phone showcase. (Daris Jose)