Aquino cites Christmas wish for Filipino youth
President Benigno S. Aquino III said that his Christmas wish this year is for the Filipino youth, especially the underprivileged, to emulate the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and be good citizens of the country.
In his message to the participating children from various key cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) during the “Pasko ng Batang Pinoy” Grand Christmas celebration at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, on Thursday, the President wished the youth a better celebration of Christmas and for them to live their lives in love, care and concern for others towards a progressive and peaceful nation.
“Ang wish ko po ngayon, maging mas ligtas, masaya at masigla hindi lamang ang inyong darating na Kapaskuhan, kundi pati na ang inyong pamumuhay sa mga susunod na taon,” the President said.
“Pasko man o hindi, patuloy nating tularan at isabuhay ang mga aral ni Hesukristo. Panatilihin natin ang pagmamahalan, pagmamalasakit at pagbibigayan sa isa’t isa tungo sa isang masagana at payapang bansa,” he noted.
The Chief Executive assured the younger generation of Filipinos that the Aquino government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman at the helm, will relentlessly pursue social programs to provide and ensure them the best for their future.
“Narito po kaming mga nakakatanda para isakatuparan ang wish na ito. Gumagawa kami ng mga paraan para bigyan kayo ng pagkakataon na maranasan din ang pinagdadaanan ng karaniwang mga bata --- pag-aaral sa eskuwela, pakikipaglaro sa mga kaibigan, at pag-aaruga ng mga maituturing ninyong pamilya… Nagtatrabaho kami para itaguyod ang inyong magandang kinabukasan,” the President said.
With all these efforts, the President said that in return, the government is expecting a more responsible breed of Filipinos in the years to come as they mature into law-abiding and righteous members of society.
“Ano naman ang inaasahan namin sa inyo? Simple lang: ang maging responsableng kabataan kayo; ang maging matinong Pilipino. Habang tinutupad ng pamahalaan ang mga paraan para mabigyan kayo ng edukasyon, mahandugan ang inyong mga magulang ng trabaho, mabigyan ang mga kapatid at kaibigan ninyo ng pagkain at gamot, sana naman ay tulungan din ninyo kami,” President Aquino said citing the numerous ways the administration is trying to achieve its goal of creating a better nation.
“Paano kayo makakatulong? Sundin ang batas, mag-aral nang mabuti, ilayo ang sarili sa bisyo at droga: sapat na iyon para makapag-ambag kayo sa pagtahak natin sa tuwid na daan. Itigil na ang pagiging pasaway; huwag nang pairalin ang katigasan ng ulo. Marami tayong magagawa kung gagawin lang natin ang tama,” he added.
“Wala na nga pong sasaya pa sa pagdiriwang ng Kapaskuhan basta’t tayo ay magkakasama at nagkakaisa…” the President continued.
Also present during the celebration were DSWD Secretary Soliman, Pasay City Representative Imelda “Emi” Calixto-Rubiano, Pasay City mayor Antonio Calixto and Presidential sister Kris Aquino and her children Josh and Bimby, among others.
The President, assisted by Kris and her children, distributed gifts to the children from each LGU in NCR following the cultural presentations by various groups from Pasig, Mandaluyong, Las Pinas and Manila.
“Pasko ng Batang Pinoy” celebration was organized by the DSWD in partnership with the local government units (LGUs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) in NCR.
The street children, who participated in the event, were reached out by the LGUs and NGOs from the streets and have been participating in various developmental activities identified with the DSWD’s Comprehensive Program for street children, street families and indigenous peoples, especially the Badjaos.
This DSWD program targets zero street children, street families and Badjaos in ten priority areas in Metro Manila where there are large concentration of the said groups. Through the program, the homeless street families and Badjaos were provided with social preparation for possible permanent shelter as well as access to income-generating opportunities, livelihood assistance and opportunities for home-based families of street children through Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K); educational assistance for street children and alternative education to other members of the family; and health and nutrition services and other support interventions through LGUs and partner NGOs. (PCOO)
President Benigno S. Aquino III said that his Christmas wish this year is for the Filipino youth, especially the underprivileged, to emulate the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and be good citizens of the country.
In his message to the participating children from various key cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) during the “Pasko ng Batang Pinoy” Grand Christmas celebration at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, on Thursday, the President wished the youth a better celebration of Christmas and for them to live their lives in love, care and concern for others towards a progressive and peaceful nation.
“Ang wish ko po ngayon, maging mas ligtas, masaya at masigla hindi lamang ang inyong darating na Kapaskuhan, kundi pati na ang inyong pamumuhay sa mga susunod na taon,” the President said.
“Pasko man o hindi, patuloy nating tularan at isabuhay ang mga aral ni Hesukristo. Panatilihin natin ang pagmamahalan, pagmamalasakit at pagbibigayan sa isa’t isa tungo sa isang masagana at payapang bansa,” he noted.
The Chief Executive assured the younger generation of Filipinos that the Aquino government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman at the helm, will relentlessly pursue social programs to provide and ensure them the best for their future.
“Narito po kaming mga nakakatanda para isakatuparan ang wish na ito. Gumagawa kami ng mga paraan para bigyan kayo ng pagkakataon na maranasan din ang pinagdadaanan ng karaniwang mga bata --- pag-aaral sa eskuwela, pakikipaglaro sa mga kaibigan, at pag-aaruga ng mga maituturing ninyong pamilya… Nagtatrabaho kami para itaguyod ang inyong magandang kinabukasan,” the President said.
With all these efforts, the President said that in return, the government is expecting a more responsible breed of Filipinos in the years to come as they mature into law-abiding and righteous members of society.
“Ano naman ang inaasahan namin sa inyo? Simple lang: ang maging responsableng kabataan kayo; ang maging matinong Pilipino. Habang tinutupad ng pamahalaan ang mga paraan para mabigyan kayo ng edukasyon, mahandugan ang inyong mga magulang ng trabaho, mabigyan ang mga kapatid at kaibigan ninyo ng pagkain at gamot, sana naman ay tulungan din ninyo kami,” President Aquino said citing the numerous ways the administration is trying to achieve its goal of creating a better nation.
“Paano kayo makakatulong? Sundin ang batas, mag-aral nang mabuti, ilayo ang sarili sa bisyo at droga: sapat na iyon para makapag-ambag kayo sa pagtahak natin sa tuwid na daan. Itigil na ang pagiging pasaway; huwag nang pairalin ang katigasan ng ulo. Marami tayong magagawa kung gagawin lang natin ang tama,” he added.
“Wala na nga pong sasaya pa sa pagdiriwang ng Kapaskuhan basta’t tayo ay magkakasama at nagkakaisa…” the President continued.
Also present during the celebration were DSWD Secretary Soliman, Pasay City Representative Imelda “Emi” Calixto-Rubiano, Pasay City mayor Antonio Calixto and Presidential sister Kris Aquino and her children Josh and Bimby, among others.
The President, assisted by Kris and her children, distributed gifts to the children from each LGU in NCR following the cultural presentations by various groups from Pasig, Mandaluyong, Las Pinas and Manila.
“Pasko ng Batang Pinoy” celebration was organized by the DSWD in partnership with the local government units (LGUs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) in NCR.
The street children, who participated in the event, were reached out by the LGUs and NGOs from the streets and have been participating in various developmental activities identified with the DSWD’s Comprehensive Program for street children, street families and indigenous peoples, especially the Badjaos.
This DSWD program targets zero street children, street families and Badjaos in ten priority areas in Metro Manila where there are large concentration of the said groups. Through the program, the homeless street families and Badjaos were provided with social preparation for possible permanent shelter as well as access to income-generating opportunities, livelihood assistance and opportunities for home-based families of street children through Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K); educational assistance for street children and alternative education to other members of the family; and health and nutrition services and other support interventions through LGUs and partner NGOs. (PCOO)
