Filipinos are known for being festive and for celebrating one of the longest Christmas seasons in the world. This time of the year brings us together and reminds us of the spirit of compassion, giving and celebrating with our families.
This year has been full of very difficult challenges for many Filipinos who faced deadly earthquakes, typhoons and other calamities. The country continues to seek accountability for massive corruption involving flood control and ghost projects that many consider the biggest in our history. As a nation, we continue to be strong and pray for our former President Tatay Digong, who is now far away from his family and from the country he served with all his heart. Despite all these, let us not forget to celebrate the true spirit of Christmas — the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
With celebration often come feasts. We Filipinos love to share our bountiful meals during the long holiday break. As vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, I believe there is no better way to celebrate this season than by staying healthy and worry-free. I encourage our kababayans to be mindful of what and how much we eat, to stay active and to make time for exercise, even during the holidays.
After all, the true meaning of Christmas is not measured by how full our tables are with food. We can still celebrate by simply going to church and spending time with our family and friends.
As your senator, I wish good health and prosperity for all our kababayans. To our health professionals, call center agents, fast-food crews, uniformed personnel, media friends, public servants and many others who will be working on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I extend my highest respect and gratitude. Because of your sacrifice, many Filipinos can celebrate the holidays safely and peacefully.
In the unfortunate event that a medical concern should arise, our primary initiatives are in place to make medical assistance more accessible, especially to the poor: Malasakit Centers, Super Health Centers and Regional Specialty Centers.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where concerned agencies are brought under one roof to ensure that medical assistance programs are within the reach of poor and financially incapacitated Filipinos. Institutionalized under Republic Act 11463, which we principally authored and sponsored, we now have 167 Malasakit Centers nationwide, which have helped more than 17 million Filipinos.
Meanwhile, Super Health Centers are designed to focus on primary care, consultation and early detection of diseases. We call on the Department of Health to ensure the completion and operation of these facilities to further strengthen the health care sector, especially in rural communities.
I am also one of the authors and the principal sponsor of Republic Act 11959, which mandates the creation of Regional Specialty Centers within existing Department of Health regional hospitals. This aims to reduce the burden on families who often shoulder high transportation and accommodation costs when seeking complex medical procedures in the capital.
To all our kababayans who have shown not only resilience but also the enduring spirit of bayanihan, grit and hope throughout the year, I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.
On 18 December, we personally visited and aided the 515 fire victims in Mandaluyong City.
On 19 December, as a member of the Senate Committee on Cooperatives, we were invited to the National Association of Training Centers for Cooperatives’ 9th National Party Congress at the Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City. Further, just like our yearly tradition, I joined the “Bring Him Home” Christmas Outreach. During the event, I could not help but remember how Tatay Digong and I used to visit cancer patients. He always has a soft spot for cancer patients, especially children. I am confident that when he returns to the Philippines, he will personally celebrate this milestone with them once again.
The previous week, our Malasakit Team also aided our kababayans at the grassroots level by providing additional assistance to fire victims in Malabon City and Navotas City. These beneficiaries also received construction materials from the national government to rebuild their homes.
More fire victims in Bacoor City, Cavite and Makati City were also immediately assisted by the Malasakit Team.
Furthermore, displaced workers in Binangonan, Rizal and Lupon, Davao Oriental also received aid from the Malasakit Team, while micro-entrepreneurs in Malita, Davao Occidental likewise received assistance.
Additionally, we also attended and provided gifts during the Cancer Warriors Foundation–Mindanao Chapter Christmas Party in Monte Maria Village, Catalunan Grande, Davao City.
As 2025 ends, the nation awaits the proposed budget being deliberated by both houses of Congress. Let us all be vigilant and scrutinize how the budget will be utilized by the government. I am one with the Filipinos in the fight and crusade against corruption.
As your Mr. Malasakit, I will continue to help those who are in need dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos.