Senior Deputy Speaker and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's wish for Filipinos this holiday season is for them to "never lose sight of the lessons of Christmas" amid their many problems.
"My husband, Mike, and I and our whole family wish every Filipino a blessed and meaningful Christmas and a New Year full of hope!" Arroyo, Pampanga 2nd district representative, said in a statement to House of Representatives reporters on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 21.
"As we face our many concerns, may we never lose sight of the lessons of Christmas – to unite for common causes and shared aspirations; to hope and have faith in the Divine Being and in our leaders; and, above all, to 'love one another' as the Holy Bible advises us," she said.
Arroyo further told Filipinos: As the Christian world once again celebrates Christmas, let us recall how the Christ Child, born in a lowly manger, brought together kings and shepherds in a rare display of unity to pay homage to the Savior; and how God’s pure love for mankind gave us the first Christmas, when He sent us Jesus Christ to teach the peoples of the world to have faith, to hope and to love our fellowmen."
Arroyo, 75, served as president of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010. She was also the Speaker of the House during the tail end of the 17th Congress.
She is president emeritus of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party.