Marcos: If your relatives call you fat this holidays, say ‘ikaw din’

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December 24, 2025 | 12:36pm

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appears to be in a festive mood this holiday season, quipping that if a relative calls you fat during the holiday reunion, you should say it back to them. 

In a vlog posted on Tuesday, the day before Christmas Eve, Marcos took questions from social media. One of these questions asked: what do you reply to a relative who calls you fat? 

“Madaling sagutin 'yan, ‘Uy, tumaba ka!’; ‘Oo nga eh. Ikaw din’,” Marcos said. 

(That is easy to answer. ‘Hey you got fatter!’; ‘Yeah. You too.’) 

Marcos took other non-serious questions as well, such as whether it was acceptable or not to give away a gift that you do not like. He said that it was important to be polite and show appreciation, but it was also best to pass the gift to another person who might need it so that it does not go to waste. 

The president also said that if he was to bring food to a holiday potluck, he would bring spaghetti. 

If there was also lumpiang shanghai, people should feel free to take as many as they want, but should compensate by also bringing a lot of food to the celebration. The president put emphasis on not limiting the festivities during the holidays. 

Marcos’ words on holiday feasting hold some weight, especially after the Department of Trade and Industry drew the ire of netizens for claiming that P500 was enough for Noche Buena. 

While the president made no mention of any prices or budgets for holiday feasts, he said it was important to celebrate well. 

“Basta't nabubusog kayo, again, Pasko naman, dapat medyo mag-enjoy tayo. Huwag natin iniisip na kailangan magpigil sa ating kasiyahan. Kaya ulit 'yung mga maghahanda ng pagkain, dami-damihan na lang ninyo para may baon pa pauwi,” Marcos said. 

(As long as you get full, again, it is Christmas, we should be enjoying ourselves. Let us not think that we should limit our joy. Again, if you are preparing food, you should prepare a lot so you can take some home.) 

However, Marcos also cautioned people from eating too much, as cases of heart attacks can increase during the season. He also reminded people not to drive while intoxicated.