More than 2,000 Filipinos have accepted the invitation of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to visit Malacañang as he opened the Palace grounds to the public for the Christmas season.
In a Facebook post, the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said more and more people are trooping to Malacañang since the President announced the "Tara sa Palasyo" celebration last week.
It added that some of the visitors at the Palace's Kalayaan Grounds even came from different parts of the country to witness how Christmas is celebrated in Malacañang.
"Parami nang parami ang mga bumibisita sa Malacañang Palace para mag-Simbang Gabi at makita ang malaking Christmas tree at parol display (More and more people are visiting the Malacañang Palace for the Simbang Gabi and to look at the big Christmas tree and lantern display)," it wrote on Friday, December 23.
"Umabot na sa mahigit 2,000 indibidwal ang nakapunta sa Palasyo. Ang iba pa ay galing mula sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas na dumayo para saksihan ang pagdiriwang ng pasko sa Malacañang (More than 2,000 individuals have visited the Palace. Some even came from different parts of the country to witness the Christmas celebration in Malacañang)," it added.
As of Wednesday morning, at least 2,116 individuals have visited Malacañang for the occasion.
Through the celebration theme dubbed "Tara sa Palasyo," the Palace grounds are now open to the public starting December 18 up to December 24, from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day.
The traditional Simbang Gabi, which will be until December 24, will allow the public to view the Christmas Tree and lanterns in the Palace.
Simbang Gabi will be held at 4:30 a.m. in front of the Mabini Hall.
Those visiting Malacañang can enter the Palace Grounds through Gate 6.
In a video posted by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos on her Facebook page this week, the President renewed his invitation to the public and said traditional Christmas food is available in Malacañang.
"Kakain kayo ng specialty ng Palasyo ngayon -- ang puto Bongbong (You will eat the Palace's current specialty - the puto Bongbong)," he said, referring to "puto bumbong," a popular Filipino purple rice cake traditionally sold during the Christmas season.
On Tuesday evening, Marcos surprised families who were visiting the Palace.