Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said on Tuesday, Dec. 22, he is one with the Filipinos who lost their loved ones to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and with those who are hopeful for a better future.

The Magdalo leader, who is seeking a Senate comeback in 2022 under the ticket of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan, shared his personal loss in the past year.

Trillanes lost a brother to COVID-19 and his mother to complications brought by Parkinson’s disease. Both died less than two weeks apart in August.

“Marami sa atin tulad ko malungkot ang Pasko dahil nawalan ng mga mahal sa buhay. Unang Paskong kulang ang pamilya. Ramdam ko po ang lalim ng lungkot ninyo. Sa tamang panahon malalagpasan din po natin ito (Many of us, like me, will have a sad Christmas because we lost our loved ones. This is the first Christmas that the family is incomplete. I can feel your sadness. In the right time, we will get through this),” he said in a video Christmas message on Facebook.

Despite not being with his loved ones this Christmas, the former senator said his heart is filled with gratitude for health workers and medical frontliners who continue to protect the public from the pandemic.

“Kayo po ang aming mga tunay na bayani (You are our true heroes),” Trillanes added.

He was also grateful for the coronavirus vaccine since it is the key to a “normal life.”

“Higit sa lahat salamat sa inyo na patuloy na umaasa, kumakayod, nagsisikap para sa isang magandang bukas. Hanggang may liyab ang puso ninyo para dito, nakaabang sa atin ang isang Pilipinas na puno ng pag-asa at magandang kinabukasan (Most of all, thank you to you all who continue to hope, work, and persevere for a better tomorrow. As long as your heart keeps burning for this, a Philippines full of hope and better future is waiting for us),” Trillanes said.