In celebration of Christmas Day, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna called for continued cooperation and support between the local government and the Manileños in the following years.
In a video on her social media pages, released on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, Lacuna cited the local government's commitment to good governance and steadfast leadership.
"Kaming lahat na mga lingkod-bayan dito sa Maynila, kasama ko ang lahat ng ating mga halal na opisyal at mga kawani mula sa barangay hanggang sa city hall, ay patuloy sa pagsisikap na maihatid ang serbisyong puno ng malasakit, maayos, masinop, malinis, at tapat (All of us public servants in Manila, along with elected officials and constituents from the barangay level to the city hall, are working hard to deliver services with compassionate, order, prudence, and honesty)," Lacuna said.
"Hangad natin ang tuloy-tuloy na kalinga sa bawat isa sa mga susunod pa na mga taon (We wish for the continued support and cooperation of each one of us in the years to come)," she added.
The mayor also called on Manileños to celebrate a meaningful Christmas with their families and loved ones filled with "love, generosity, happiness, and peace to each of us."
This is the true spirit of Christmas, Lacuna noted.
Throughout December, the city government of Manila has distributed Christmas food boxes or Pamaskong Handog packs to 695,000 families in the 896 barangays in six districts in Manila.
A total of 179,000 senior citizens in Manila also received their own Pamaskong Handog gift boxes from the local government.
Simultaneous to the gift box distribution, senior citizens also got their allowances for the months of September to December from the local government.
Around 29,449 persons with disabilities (PWDs), and 15,870 solo parents also received their respective allowances from the local government.
Students in public senior high schools, from the Unibersidad De Manila (UDM) and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) got their allowances as well, Lacuna said.