CHRISTMAS is truly in the air as Pampanga Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda is continuously bringing smiles and joy to some 4,687 Indigenous People (IP) in the upland areas of the province.

Pineda and Second District Board Member (BM) Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab personally visited the IP communities in the towns of Porac and Floridablanca, and Mabalacat City on Saturday, December 15.

Governor Pineda, Cayabyab and some volunteers from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) distributed early Christmas gifts to the IPs.

Pineda said this gift-giving has been a tradition started by his mother, then Governor and now Vice Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda.

“10 years na nating tradisyon na namimigay sa mga katutubo nating mga kapatid. Patuloy lang ang suporta natin, laging bukas parati ang Kapitolyo para sa kanila,” the governor said.

(It’s been 10 years of our tradition to give gifts to indigenous people. We continue supporting them, the Capitol is always ready to help them.)

For her part, Cayabyab said this is the way of the provincial government in giving back the support they have extended to the present administration.

“Gusto lang namin ipakita sa kanila kahit hindi eleksyon, nandito kami para sa kanila upang batiin sila ng isang maligaya pasko at masaganang bagong taon,” she said.

(We’d like to show them that even if it is not election time, we are here to greet them a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.)

“Sana magustuhan nila ang munting tulong natin para sa kanila,” Cayabyab added.

(We hope they liked our little presents for them.)

Each of the beneficiaries received pack of hotdogs, frozen meat, canned goods, and five kilos of rice which they partake during their noche buena on Christmas Eve. (PR)