President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos spread holiday cheers on Thursday to at least 870 kindergarten pupils in Marikina City as they received Christmas gifts from the First Couple.

Their gifts were distributed by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and his wife, Special Envoy to the United Arab Emirates for Trade and Investment Ma. Anna Kathryna Pimentel.

The gift included bags containing school supplies and they were provided at the covered court in Barangay Kalumpang as they thanked the First Couple for the gifts as they also provided 5 kilograms of rice to each beneficiary.

Special Envoy Pimentel announced that the beneficiaries would receive an additional P2,000 each during a payout in Sampaguita Village, Barangay Malanday on 23 December 2024.

Andel Bocatcat, a 36-year-old single mother from Barangay Malanday, expressed gratitude to Marcos for the Christmas gifts while JayAr Torres, a father of a five-year-old child from Barangay Sto. Niño, said the gifts would be a significant help for his family’s Noche Buena.

Meantime, Criselda Ubusan, a resident of Barangay Malanday, said the P2,000 cash aid would be beneficial in providing for her children’s needs.