President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday joined some 30,000 children around the country, including those from select shelters and orphanages, for the annual nationwide simultaneous Christmas gift-giving program of Malacañang.

In his speech for the 3rd “Balik Sigla, Bigay Saya” annual gift-giving day, Marcos recounted how his late father and namesake had Christmas gatherings for children at the Palace in Manila during his presidency.

“Alam nyo naman, basta’t ‘pag Pasko ito’y ino-open house namin dahil ganiyan talaga ang naging tradisyon sa pamilya namin, Pamilya Marcos, noong bata pa ako at dito pa kami nakatira (You know, every Christmas we hold an open house because that’s the tradition of our family, the Marcos family, when I was young when we still lived here),” Marcos said.

“Basta’t Pasko mayroon kaming handa para sa ating mga maliliit na inaalagaan kaya nandito po tayo ulit (Every Christmas, we have something ready for our little ones that we are taking care of so we are here again).”

The simultaneous gift-giving program took place nationwide, with the main event at the Palace grounds and 16 local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila, along with three from the Visayas and Mindanao joining via an online platform.

It was organized by the Office of the President through the Social Secretary’s Office, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Metro Manila LGUs.

In the Palace, over 2,000 children gathered to join the President and the First Family.

Among the participants are children in orphanages supported by Tulong sa Palasyo, an ongoing initiative of the Office of the President.

As early as 8 a.m., the Kalayaan grounds were filled with thrilled children as carnival-themed inflatables and food stalls welcomed them to the Palace.

The President and the First Family rode a trackless train with some children around the venue.

As Marcos alighted from the train, children came forward to greet and hug him while some chanted “BBM! BBM!”

After distributing red trolley bags containing gifts for the kids, the First Family also walked around the Kalayaan grounds to greet guests. (PNA)