MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is inviting the public to view its Christmas tree and lantern displays and to attend the traditional Simbang Gabi or dawn mass.
Through the celebration theme “Tara sa Palasyo,” the Palace grounds will be open to the public from Dec. 18 to 24, from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day, the Office of the Press Secretary said in a statement yesterday.
“The public can now enter the Malacañang Palace Grounds to view the Malacañang Christmas tree and parols (lanterns) and attend the Simbang Gabi as announced by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last week,” the statement read.
The Simbang Gabi will be held at 4:30 a.m. in front of the Mabini Hall until Dec. 24. Visitors may enter the Palace grounds through Gate 6.
During the Christmas party held for employees of his office last Friday, Marcos announced that the Palace grounds would be open to the public for Simbang Gabi, a series of masses intended to prepare Catholics for Christmas that starts on Dec. 16.
Earlier this month, Marcos led the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Kalayaan grounds at Malacañang and a nationwide gift-giving program in front of the Palace.