Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan led the city officials and personnel in the 12 days of distribution of 650,000 Christmas boxes of noche buena items to poor households in the city on Sunday, Dec. 1.
She said the 12 days of Christmas from Dec. 1 to 12 will be followed by two more days of giving 176,000 Christmas boxes to senior citizens on Dec. 13 and 14.
She disclosed this during the lighting of the city’s Christmas Tree at the Kartilya ng Katipunan plaza beside the Manila City Hall on Friday evening, Nov. 29.
Simultaneous with the Christmas tree lighting are the powering up of decorative lights and lanterns in several areas in Manila.
Lit up were the Pasig River Esplanade, Rizal Park, Intramuros, National Museum, Metropolitan Theater, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
“Mula naman sa unang araw ng Disyembre ay gagawin na natin ang 12 days of Christmas bilang handog sa ating mga pamilyang Manileño. Iikot po tayo sa mga barangay sa anim na distrito ng Maynila upang dalhin at iabot nang personal ang ating hinandang Christmas boxes upang kahit paano ay mayroong pagsasaluhan sa noche buena (Starting on the first day of December, we will be doing the 12 days of Christmas as a gift to our Manila families. We will be going around the barangays in the six districts of Manila to personally deliver our prepared Christmas boxes so that at least there will be a sharing of the noche buena.),” the mayor said.
During the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, the mayor and Postmaster General Luis Carlos of PhilPost also unveiled a new Simbang Gabi sa Ilog Pasig commemorative stamp.
“It is our hope that the Christmas tree and decorations at key Manila landmarks will add much to everyone’s holiday cheer. May the lights inspire people to spread brightness and charity, especially in the aftermath of calamities that struck Isla Puting Bato, Vitas, and other Manila areas ravaged by fires and floods,” she said in a separate statement.
“There is a donations drop-off center at the Kartilya ng Katipunan where charitable individuals, families, groups, companies, and institutions can share relief goods and gifts for calamity victims. Donations are accepted there Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 5pm,” the mayor added.
Manila's registered senior citizens will also receive P2,000 each, which is their trimestral allowance from the city.
The mayor had recently announced Manila's allowance for seniors will increase to P1,000 monthly, so they will receive P4,000 every fourth month.