Marcos plays Santa to 2,000 children

President Marcos played Santa Claus to more than 2,000 children yesterday at Malacañang, during the third year of a nationwide gift-giving program that sustained the tradition started by his late father's administration.

- By ALEXIS ROMERO

Instead of the traditional Santa Claus suit, the President was clad in a red checkered polo and blue pants while he drove a yellow train during the "Balik Sigla, Bigay Saya Year 3" program organized by the Office of the President and the Social Secretary's Office at the Kalayaan grounds.

Marcos' passengers First Lady Liza Marcos, their sons Joseph Simon and William Vincent and six children waved as the train was on its way to the program venue.

Children mobbed the President as he alighted the train, while others took photos and showed their respect by taking his hand in a Filipino gesture known as pagmamano.

The gift-giving sought to provide Christmas presents to some 30,000 children aged 4 to 12 across the country.

In his impromptu remarks during the event, Marcos expressed hope that the Philippines would experience a merry Christmas, recalling the various disasters that hit the country recently.