Celebrate the spirit of giving: Make a choice to buy local gifts

As Christmas Day nears, preparations for the familiar rituals of giving are all around us -selecting gifts, planning noche buena, decorating homes, and looking for ways to share joy with the people who matter.

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Beyond the sparkle of parol lanterns and the bustle of holiday shopping malls lies an opportunity for each of us to make a choice that can uplift our communities, strengthen our economy, and support the dreams of our own neighbors - choosing to buy locally made products.

In the Philippines, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) make up more than 99 percent of all businesses. Many of these are run by families, artisans, farmers, and young entrepreneurs whose creativity and perseverance bring life to our local economy. When we buy local, especially during the most economically active season of the year, we directly help these Filipino business owners thrive.

Christmas, after all, is not just a season of abundance-it is a season of compassion. And what better way to embody the spirit of bayanihan than by letting our holiday spending work for the benefit of our own communities?