IN a statement released today, the Office of the Executive Secretary, echoing the call of the President, urged all government agencies to forgo extravagant Christmas celebrations this year.
The call for austerity comes in solidarity with the millions
This call is in solidarity with the millions of our countrymen who continue to grieve over lives, homes and livelihoods lost during the six typhoons that pummeled us in a span of less than a month.
An official guidance in writing need no longer be issued because we believe in the kindness of our fellow government workers, whom we fully trust can unilaterally adopt austerity in their celebrations.
We urge them as well that whatever savings they realize from scaled-down celebrations be donated to our calamity-hit communities.
The true spirit of Christmas implores us to celebrate with compassion, to share our blessings, and to spread cheer. As a people united by love for our fellow men, we can cast away bleakness as we celebrate in this season of joy.
On the part of the government, we will make sure that the Christmas spirit will be felt early by all the affected areas in the form of relief goods and assistance, of infrastructure rebuilt, and of livelihoods restored.
