Bulacan gov calls for ‘simple’ holiday celebration; critics call out negligence

By Nash Villena, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
December 4, 2025

(Photo Courtesy: Daniel R. Fernando/Facebook)

CITY OF MALOLOS — Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando urged Bulakenyos to celebrate Christmas modestly as a show of “empathy for the nation’s disaster victims,” drawing criticisms from his constituents.

In a Monday press release, Fernando said during a tree-lighting event that people of Bulacan should be thankful that the Central Luzon province was not among the heavily hit areas by recent calamities.

He said that the flooding problem in Bulacan is considerably less severe than the disasters experienced in the Visayas and Mindanao regions, which were battered by strong typhoons and earthquakes in the past few months. Fernando also affirmed the resilient spirit of Bulakenyos in rising above challenges.

“Mapalad pa rin po tayo kasi baha lang ang nangyari sa atin. Pero kung titingnan po natin, ‘yung Cebu, ‘yung Davao Oriental, tingnan ninyo po kung ano ang nangyari sa kanila. Maraming ari-arian at buhay ang nawala, magpa-Pasko pa naman. Sa Bulacan ito pa rin po tayo, nakatindig pa rin. Pero papaano po kaya ‘yung iba?” he said.

(We’re still fortunate here in Bulacan because we experienced only flooding. Considerably, if we’re going to observe areas in Cebu and Davao Oriental, they were hit the hardest. Countless properties and lives were lost ahead of Christmas. Yet here we are in Bulacan, still resilient. But how about the other victims?)

Fernando added that he laments the sorry state of Filipinos in the central and southern parts of the country, especially as the holiday season approaches. He called on his constituents to offer prayers for the victims.

“Kaya naman kailangan nating i-celebrate ‘yung Christmas nang payak, simple, okay na ‘yon. Makiramay po tayo sa mga nangyari. Ipagdasal po natin sila kasi mahalaga po dito ay ang pagdarasal,” he said.

(Therefore, we have to celebrate Christmas plainly, simply; it will be enough. We must send our sympathies over the tragedies. We must also pray for the victims since prayers are important.)

Criticisms flood in

Some Bulakenyos, however, were quick to express their frustration over Fernando’s ‘insensitive’ remarks despite the daily plight of the flooded communities in the province.

“Ah, yes, pagaanin ang incompetence by comparing our situation to people who have it worse. What a lazy, dishonest way to deflect responsibility,” Louella Cruz said.

(Ah yes, lighten governance incompetence by comparing our situation to people who have it worse. What a lazy, dishonest way to deflect responsibility.)

“’Yung masuwerteng sinasabi niyo, ayon, araw-araw nagsasalok ng tubig baha palabas ng mga bahay nila kahit pagod na sa trabaho. Papasok nang baha, uuwing baha at maglilinis ng bahay. Luck? I call it negligence,” she added.

(Those you’re referring to as ‘fortunate ones’ are the ones who have to remove floodwaters in their homes despite exhaustion from work. They’ll leave for work in floodwater, and they’ll return home to clean their house in floodwater. Luck? I call it negligence.)

George Pablo, a resident of Hagonoy, saw the governor’s words as invalidation of the people’s lived struggle against the prolonged flooding, taking a toll on Bulakenyo’s quality of life.

“Bilang Gobernardor ng lalawigan, hindi mo pwedeng ulit-uliting i-invalidate ang mga nararanasan ng mga nasasakupan mo dahil ilang buhay na ang nawala, kalusugan na naapektuhan, pangkabuhayan na naantala at edukasyong ang kalidad ay palubog na rin dahil sa epekto ng sinasabi mong “BAHA LANG”!” Pablo stressed.

(As provincial governor, you cannot repeatedly invalidate the experiences of your constituents with floods, because many lives are already lost to flooding, the people’s health is being compromised, livelihoods are being hindered, and the quality of education is also sinking altogether as a result of what you’re referring to as “ONLY FLOODING!”)

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), there are 668 recorded flood control projects in Bulacan from July 2022 to May 2025, most of which were flagged as either substandard or non-existent.

The anomalous flood control issue in the Philippines is now considered its biggest corruption scandal, with ongoing probes revealing more state actors involved and billions of pesos from the nation’s coffers reportedly lost to corruption.