Hello wonderful people! Thursday and Thirstday it is!

We now have a few days to wait before that really important and joyous occasion we only celebrate once a year! Yes, my dear, it is Christmas time!

But before anything else, let me greet the wonderful team from the Philippine Ports Authority who are responsible for truly making sure our port users and travelers are safe, sound and getting the optimum service the PPA can provide.

Merry Christmas to PPA general manager Atty. Jay Daniel Santiago and the rest of the Executive Management, Atty. Elmer Cadano, Atty. Mark Palomar, Engr. James Gantalao, Maj. Eric Dimaculangan and Kelvin Angeles.

The PPA's  Christmas theme for this year is "Pasko ng Pag-ibig at Aruga" (Christmas of Love and Care).

Well, inside the PPA we can truly see that the spirit of love and giving is in the air as Yuletide activities are kicked off.

PPA launched its very first in its history Christmas station ID, composed and sung by PPA employees from the Port Management Office of Davao. It won first place in a contest, while in second place was PMO Bicol with an equally gorgeous rendition.

PPA had employee gatherings at the head office and nationwide with the PMO joining in the merriment.

It was an early Christmas treat during the program at the head office as a performance by the PPA chorale coupled with servings of puto bumbong and bibingka enjoyed by everyone.

Simultaneous Christmas tree lighting events were held by the PPA via the different PMOs nationwide last 4 December with GM Santiago switching on the lights of the 40-foot Christmas tree in the main PPA office.

The Christmas season means a holiday for some but let's salute the porters, the PPA employees on the ground, port police, cleaning staff and everyone who will be on duty on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Yuletide is a peak season for travelers. PPA expects 5.1-million passengers this year compared to the 4.7 million last year. The apex of the peak season based on the forecast is from 16 December until 5 January next year.

However, in the course of our travels, we may encounter weather phenomena beyond our control like typhoon "Kabayan." Hardworking PPA GM, Santiago is all out when it comes to passenger safety as he leads Team PPA in making sure that travelers would feel the love and care through genuine service.

To ease the burden on passengers during the last typhoon and in this peak season, PPA serves simple congee to famished travelers as they are briefed on safety and given periodic updates on the weather.

The love and care doesn't stop within the PPA community. Outreach programs were conducted on various levels for the benefit of multiple groups. Donations were made through the initiative of the PPA Human Resource Department for cancer patients at the Philippine General Hospital.  The PPA Employees Union called Pantalan did the same by donating to children with special needs from the Footsteps Learning Center.

PPA's battlecry is "service to the people," thus we also pay tribute to other groups and individuals who embody what that means.

Speaking of service, a post on Facebook a few days ago is gaining traction. The story of an expectant mother accompanied by her husband in the geographically isolated part of Talaingod in Davao del Norte is touching. They were chanced upon by a team of soldiers aboard a military vehicle called a KM450 on a rugged road. They were taken on board but the baby couldn't wait and was born while they were traversing rough terrain.

The soldiers became instant midwives and delivered the baby and then brought the family to a hospital in the next Municipality of Kapalong. The baby was named Kyla Mae by her father, short for KM, a tribute to the KM450 military vehicle and the soldiers who went the extra mile to make sure she was safe.

We cannot help but think of baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph with nowhere to go. He was born in a manger and there were kind hearts who brought him gifts.

Such is the true spirit of Christmas. Going the extra mile to serve those in need. Porters, help desk employees, soldiers, policemen, firefighters and all those in the security sector, media, doctors, nurses and allied medical practitioners, food business, hotels and related fields, PPA employees, those in the transport sector; and all those who will be serving us during Christmas while they are away from home, we salute them!

And yes, we are in the same boat as we celebrate the same Christmas Day, filled with giving and blessings!