President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. spent New Year’s Eve at Malacañang, a detail underscored by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro in what appeared to be a pointed clarification amid the mounting political pressure on the administration.

“The President is just here, and no travel will be made,” said Castro hours before the New Year’s Eve revelries began, stressing that Marcos had no plans of leaving the Palace during the holiday.

Traditionally, the President and the First Family travel to Ilocos Norte during the Christmas and New Year holiday break. On some occasions, they had opted for a brief trip to Baguio City.

This year, however, the President, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and their three sons — Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos, Simon, and Vincent — marked Christmas and welcomed the New Year at Malacañang.

Castro said other members of the Marcos family likewise spent time at the Palace.

The unusually detailed disclosure came as the President’s trust rating slipped into negative territory in the latest Social Weather Stations survey, reflecting the growing public unease over governance issues, the economy, and corruption controversies hounding the administration.

GAA review

Castro’s remarks were framed alongside repeated assurances that Marcos was prioritizing official work over holiday travel, particularly the review of the proposed 2026 national budget.

In December, Presidential Communications Office acting Secretary Dave Gomez said the President had convened his economic team before Christmas to begin reviewing the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2026.

On Monday, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto confirmed that the executive branch had received the enrolled GAA after Congress ratified the Bicameral Conference Committee report.

Recto said the budget would undergo a thorough review to “ensure its integrity and effective execution.”

“We will ensure that the 2026 GAA will satisfy not only the legal and technical requirements but, more importantly, the needs of the Filipino people,” he said.

He said the review process would take about a week, during which the 2025 budget would be reenacted so as not to disrupt government operations.

Recto said the President is expected to sign the 2026 budget within the first week of January.