Kalayaan Grounds, Malacañang
December 3, 2018

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the lighting ceremony of the Office of the President (OP) Christmas tree as well as all the lanterns within the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañang.

Standing at 40 meters and containing 1,280 lanterns or parols, the OP Christmas tree is made mostly of recycled materials except for the red garlands that were purchased to decorate the Christmas tree.

In his message, President Duterte conveyed his delight to be in the company of the Office of the President officials and personnel in heralding the Christmas season. He expressed his wishes that his fellow government workers be filled with “warmth, happiness and peace in our hearts” and that the ceremony re-ignite their desire for genuine public service.

He urged the OP employees to support his advocacy of giving the Filipino people renewed hope for a better future despite the obstacles facing the country such as insurgency, corruption, illegal drugs, abuses experienced by the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and social dysfunction. He vowed that there would be no let-up in his government campaign against illegal drugs and corruption as long as he is the nation’s President.

The Chief Executive stated his goals of improving the economy, bringing in more investments, and providing more jobs to Filipinos in the coming year. He added that he wants to be remembered as an ordinary Filipino who became President to serve his countrymen.

Apart from the Christmas tree, the lawn of the Kalayaan Grounds is adorned with small lanterns and small red lights that is this year’s motif. The Christmas tree shall be lighted daily during sunset until 10 o’clock in the evening.

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